Public Safety Signals

Ideas to help with preparedness

2009 Apr 14 Posted by Mark

My father used to tell me “Son, … you can’t cure stupid.”, and the longer I am in this business, the more I have to agree with that statement. You would think the general public would learn from past disasters, but a recent report by Rice University claims that lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina were ignored during Hurricane Ike. People put their own lives and their families’ lives in at unnecessary risk.

Unfortunately there is an overall complacency among the general public that is a thorn in public safety’s side. A USA Today report dated December of 2006 claims that most people are not prepared. In my experience, I would say that is a valid assessment. In fact, the USA Today story sites a “Public Readiness Index” report that has determined that on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest), U.S. citizens are only prepared at a level of 3.3.

Facts dictate that people who are not prepared and who do not heed warnings we as public put more public safety officers lives at risk and we are forced to use more resources to rescue those that did not listen. Are we missing the boat? Why aren’t we making a difference in preparedness? What do we need to do to reach these people and to make them understand?

My personal opinion is we need to put more time into researching what does and does not work. We need to team up with those that are in the public relations and marketing fields, and use their experience to teach emergency managers how to deliver and help the general public retain our message. I look forward to your ideas, or if you believe it is a case where “You can’t cure stupid” Either way, please let me know?

Take care and stay safe,

Mark S. Warnick

April 14, 2009 | Filed under: Capella, Capella University, Charles Tiffin, Public Safety Signals, Public safety, Uncategorized, disaster, education, homeland security
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