What do you do if your community lacks interest in emergency preparedness activities?

It is a fine line you have to walk; on the one hand you have to stress how important is is to be prepared, on the other hand you have to realize it is human nature to not want to address issues that are negatively impactful. I start out by asking an audience 'what has happened to you in the past' to get them in a frame of mind to address future situations.

Education and Awareness could be the main strategy, you should organize workshops or information sessions to educate residents about the importance of emergency preparedness. Use relatable scenarios that highlight potential risks. Secondly, Engagement through Events, hosting community events like fairs or safety days that incorporate fun activities related to emergency preparedness. This can include demonstrations, games, and hands-on training.

Conduct surveys or hold focus groups to understand the specific reasons for low participation. Identify common misconceptions or fears about emergency preparedness. Analyze logistical issues, such as inconvenient timing or location of activities, that might be preventing participation.

Try to find out the "why" as it might prove very informative. It is important to listen and find out what is really going on. Is it a budgetary issue? Is it an ideology issue? Is it a lack of awareness of the importance of emergency preparedness? Do we have the right stakeholders at the table?

Reach out to respected community figures, such as local government officials, religious leaders, or popular influencers, to advocate for preparedness. Organize meetings with these leaders to discuss the importance of emergency readiness and how they can help spread the message. Encourage leaders to share their personal experiences or stories related to emergency situations to make the cause more relatable

You have to realize that leaders look at emergency situations in a slightly different way: I have noticed that the higher up you go the more you will have to present your findings in a 'either/or' (E/O) modality based on their particular area of concern.

Offer flexible scheduling options, such as weekend or evening sessions, to accommodate different lifestyles. Provide online resources and virtual training sessions for those who cannot attend in person. Break down activities into smaller, manageable tasks that can be completed in short time frames, making it easier for busy individuals to participate.

Making people simply aware of existing structures such as checklists that can be viewed and/or downloaded can help communities understand how much they may not know and drive engagement. Awareness of a local CERT team can be helpful too

“Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.” Personal perspective can be a powerful way to change thinking. Now the change agent must already have credibility, so this can be a difficult task.

Share testimonials from community members who have benefited from being prepared during an emergency. Highlight real-life incidents where preparedness made a significant difference in outcomes. Use multimedia, such as videos or social media posts, to tell these stories in an engaging and impactful way.

Sometimes I tell 'what I did wrong' stories so that the audience can work out solutions with me. By using yourself as an example individuals can relate to your experience and learn.

Organize community events, such as fairs or block parties, that include emergency preparedness activities as part of the fun. Create a buddy system where neighbors can support each other in preparing for emergencies. Promote a culture of mutual aid and cooperation, emphasizing that preparedness strengthens the entire community.