Should somebody just say it? No, they aren’t prepared. They aren’t listening to us.
However, there is good news in that there are many anecdotal stories about taking a class or getting prepared and then that new preparedness came in very handy soon after. But on a larger scale, what percentage of the population is prepared the way we want them to be? My experience is that it is very small… and to us in the industry, we cannot figure out why people don’t listen to us and heed our warnings. This is National Preparedness Month and we all focus staff time, money and other resources on the problems, but does it change behaviors? This is an excellent piece just released by CalEMA. Please review it after you finish reading this blog.
The world of adult education has taught us that you can change human behavior using a combination of methods to motivate the adult learner. These are referred to learning domains- and both adult education, as well as childhood education base curriculum development on the learning objectives of what you want to accomplish at the end of the instruction
Cognitive- this is the “knowing” or “thinking” domain. The adult learner changes their behavior because they now know something new. People know they should get prepared. Why don’t they?
Psychomotor- this is the “doing” or “manipulative” or “hands-on” learning. Some people just don’t have the tools or the skills to do some tasks. Changing a battery in a smoke detector, securing the water heater to the wall, exposing your street numbers so emergency responders can find you—these are all items that require some degree of “doing” with your hands.
Affective- this domain is the core of what we try to teach and preach in preparedness. This is the “feelings” or “emotional” aspect of learning. For adults, this domain is the most important because it is the power behind making the change. It is also the most difficult to teach and measure, in terms of quantifiable behavior changes.
“It’ll never happen to me” is clearly an affective response to the need to be prepared. People may KNOW what to do and be able to DO it, they just don’t. Here is where we need to focus our attention and efforts and find ways to reward and reinforce desired behavior; deter undesired behavior/no action.
We live in the greatest country in the world and our citizens believe that public safety services will ALWAYS be there to assist and rescue them, no matter what hazards they are facing. But in this age of fiscal constraints, an increasing number of jurisdictions will not be able to sufficiently respond to a disaster, regardless of the intent.
Myths and bad information still create an obstacle for us to overcome. “I don’t wear my seatbelt because I don’t want to be trapped in the burning car when it explodes.” Really? Yes, those kinds of arguments can still be heard. The list of excuses and lack of action is a mile long. This is not unique in our field. The medical professionals fighting obesity, heart disease, smoking and so on also face the same challenges—getting adults to change behaviors. Social marketing really started in the public health world, (anti-smoking, immunization, AIDS prevention, etc.) but it has been very successful in traffic safety (seat belt compliance, sober driving, and child passenger safety).
The job of Prevention and Preparedness will never be done—we have job security, so to speak, since there will always be an audience we need to touch and people’s behaviors we need to change. Here is a call to action for more aggressive partnerships with the private sector - businesses, nonprofits, community groups, churches, etc. - to make a difference!
Latest Blog Posts 
Latest Emergency Management News
Oklahoma’s Emergency Chief Has Weathered 36 Disasters
Experts in emergency management say Albert Ashwood’s long experience and innovative thinking have helped ease those recoveries.
Experts in emergency management say Albert Ashwood’s long experience and innovative thinking have helped ease those recoveries.
Amid Disaster, Oklahoma Students Design Tornado Drones
Students at the Oklahoma State University Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering designed preliminary storm drones that could someday gather data that saves lives.
Students at the Oklahoma State University Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering designed preliminary storm drones that could someday gather data that saves lives.
Mobile Tech Links Trauma Surgeons with SWAT Teams
The test program equips SWAT officers with computers and cameras so when out in the field, trauma surgeons can help them respond to critical injuries.
The test program equips SWAT officers with computers and cameras so when out in the field, trauma surgeons can help them respond to critical injuries.
- Most Popular
-
- Long-Term Recovery Planning: What You Need to Know
- What You Should Know About Emergency Management Degrees
- Major Earthquake Scenario Tests California’s Response Capabilities
- Emergency Managers Prepare for a Changing Disaster Paradigm
- C-CERTs Allow Colleges to Take Quick Action During an Emergency
- 2013 Emergency Management Summits
- Most Commented
-
-
Does social media monitoring belong in Planning or PIO?
"Put me in the "camp" that has social media monitoring as a function working within Situati" -
Emergency Managers Prepare for a Changing Disaster Paradigm
"An excellent article; it clearly presents the situation (acknowledging Rob's comment). ... I see a/t" -
Social media replacing 911?
"Frightened troubled and shocked!Techno-laggards! Embrace SMEM, you laggards. May be and might be? Co" -
Tornado 'Safe Room' Plans
"Pete, I remember being in the basement as a young boy in the early evenings when there were tornadoe" -
L.A. Prepares the Next Generation of Emergency Managers Through Internships
"wow nice and good share"
-
Does social media monitoring belong in Planning or PIO?
Latest Grants
- Funding Critical Projects Requires Creativity, Collaboration
- Hinds County, Miss., Imposes Surcharge on 911 Calls via Internet-Based Phones
- Cities Implement First Responders’ Fee for Nonresidents to Fill Budget Gaps
- How Much Homeland Security Federal Funding Should New York City Receive?
- Higher Education Grants to Fund All-Hazards Planning for Institutions
