Transcript Slide 1 - Confex

The Effects of Distant Witnessing on Emergency Preparedness Practice and Attitudes
Alice J. Hausman, Michael G. Hagen,
Brenda Seals
% “Very” Important for Public to Prepare,
By Year
Research Question
80
This paper assesses the impact of Hurricane
Katrina on preparedness practice and
attitudes of individuals who did not directly
experience the disaster.
50
40
Given the breadth and depth of news media
coverage, the question is whether “distant
witnessing” has the same impact as direct
experience with disasters to increase
household preparedness
20
2005
64
59
40
2004
47
20
0
0
Bombing
Disease
Despite real-time, graphic demonstration
of the effects of a large scale natural
disaster, household emergency
preparedness did not increase after
Katrina.
Flooding
2004
Preparations for Emergency, by Year
%
40
2004
Conclusions
20
20
Hijacking
2005
2005
41
43
0
53
59
46
40
69
60
0
2005
61
40
20
Concern About Threats, by Year
%very or somewhat concerned
63
2004
Confident You Are Prepared, by Year:
% very or somewhat confident
Random-digit dial sample of nine counties
2004: 1070 interviews
2005: 1500 interviews
Weighted to be demographically
representative
Margins of error: 5 % – both surveys
Measures:
Concern about future disaster
exposure
Preparedness attitudes and practice
Confidence in government
70
60
0
Temple University Quality of Life Survey
60
Confidence in Your
Government’s Ability to
Handle an Emergency, by
Year: % very or somewhat
confident
72
60
2005
50
2004
41
26
Purchased
extra food
and water
30
Arranged an
emergency
meeting place
22
24
Located a shelter
where you can go
Social Marketing campaigns to increase
public preparedness need to convey actual
risk in order to stimulate a positive
response.
Efforts to increase public compliance need
to address sagging confidence in the
government role in disaster response.