Final answer:
The missing item to complete the statement on preparedness, which includes wide-ranging measures such as anti-terrorism legislation and infrastructure resilience, is 'prevent'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Preparedness is defined as actions taken to plan, organize, equip, train, and exercise to build and sustain the capabilities necessary to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from those threats that pose the greatest risk. The missing item from the options provided to complete the statement is prevent. This encompasses a broad approach that includes implementing civil defense and emergency preparedness measures, such as anti-terrorism legislation, and ensuring the resilience of critical national infrastructure. The logic behind such efforts is rooted in the importance of being ready for various threats, including natural disasters and terrorism, and the understanding that proactivity in national security can deter potential attacks and effectively protect a nation's citizens and assets.