177380 A cost-based typology of household disaster preparedness actions: The "Get Ready Pyramid"

Monday, October 27, 2008

Megumi Kano, DrPH , School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Michele M. Wood, PhD , Southern California Inury Prevention Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Dennis S. Mileti, PhD , University of Colorado at Boulder, Rancho Mirage, CA
Linda B. Bourque, PhD , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Background: Public education efforts to enhance disaster preparedness have been increasing. These education campaigns often deliver the same basic messages but use different typologies or do not use any organizational structure at all, which may confuse the audience. The goal of this study was to integrate recommended preparedness actions from various sources, including research and public campaigns, to develop a comprehensive typology of preparedness activities that would appeal to a lay audience.

Methods: A review of social science research on household disaster preparedness and ongoing disaster-preparedness campaigns in the State of California identified a total of 107 recommended actions for being disaster/earthquake ready. The actions were analyzed to identify distinct but related dimensions and a cross-cutting theme.

Results: Seven mutually exclusive dimensions of readiness were identified and organized into a stacked pyramid, with the cost of implementation as the unifying theme. The seven layers of the pyramid are, respectively, in the order of least costly to most costly: “Learn How to Be Ready”, “Plan and Organize”, “Train and Practice”, “Manage Supplies and Equipment”, “Secure Building Contents”, “Protect Building Structure”, and “Safeguard Finances.” The cost of “getting ready” increases to the extent that households must pay for training, buy supplies and equipment, etc.

Implications: The “Get Ready Pyramid” is intended for public education. Given that cost is a major inhibitor of preparedness, highlighting activities that are low-cost or cost-free (i.e., the bottom and broadest layer of the pyramid) may help empower people to take action.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe all seven dimensions of household disaster readiness presented in the "Get Ready Pyramid." 2. Give one example of a readiness action for each of the seven layers/dimensions of the pyramid. 3. Assess personal level of readiness by identifying the extent to which one has performed the activities represented in the pyramid.

Keywords: Disasters, Public Health Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a researcher employed by a public university with a doctorate degree in public health and extensive research experience on the topic of disaster impact and preparedness.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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