Become aware, get equipped, be prepared: Disaster preparedness

Natural disasters are part of life, especially in Southern California where earthquakes, mudslides and fires are regular occurrences. While we live with this knowledge and are often encouraged to be prepared many of us are not, and for persons that are poor and language isolated, such preparedness lags even farther behind. To address such preparedness challenges a group of MPH students worked with low income parents and teachers of a Southern California Head Start program of a mid size community which is located on several earthquake fault lines and surrounded by dense vegetation of the arid Southern CA climate resulting in regular fire danger. To best inform program development, students conducted a targeted needs and assets assessment(NA+A) with parents, teachers, administrators, and community members. Data were collected through windshield surveys, literature reviews, site observations, theory-based semi-structured interviews, and a confirmatory focus group. Data were coded, themed and analyzed using Grounded Theory methods. Results indicated that as expected participants lacked preparedness knowledge. Moreover, even when knowledge was observed participants noted barriers related to lack of financial resources, time, life stresses, and inadequate realistic experiences with respect to reacting during such disasters. Participants requested a hands-on-training workshop that included first aid training and materials including a list for preparing a survival kit in English and Spanish. We then developed, implemented and evaluated a pilot program using process and impact evaluation for program improvement. Results of the NA+A process and pilot study will be discussed in light of program sustainability.