The biggest challenge that faces emergency managers is not the disasters itself, it’s getting a very busy population to take even the most basic steps to become prepared.  In every class that addresses preparation, there is a theory that for every dollar spent in preparation saves at minimum of seven dollars in response and recovery.  We as managers need to work with every partner and stakeholder to get this message out. 

The first step in this process is to make sure that we ourselves are prepared.  Our families need to be prepared so we can leave our homes and our worries behind to focus on the community in peril.  Many of us are guilty of not making our own preparations that we preach so strongly.  Not only will this mean that our loved ones are safe, but our neighbors will look to them to set the example while we are gone.

Second, by placing our energy on educating school age children we can reach not only the students but also their families.  This demographic is the most accessible and diverse by which to get the preparedness message across.  For example, many programs like Stop, Drop and Roll, and the earthquake plan for Duck, Cover and Hold have been very successful in their implementation.

By focusing on these two approaches, we as managers can build more resilient communities.