Are Americans Prepared for Disasters?

Are Americans Prepared for Disasters?



Not only are there serious gaps  in the nation’s readiness to protect Americans from public health disasters, experts  are saying that most “Americans themselves are not prepared to handle emergencies.”  In fact, family emergency preparedness, the first line of defense against threats to public health are woefully lacking according to a recent survey from the American Medical Association.  The startling finding—only 10 percent of households are prepared for emergencies.  And it’s not just a matter of having the physical items in place, most Americans are not mentally tuned into emergency preparedness. 

Highlighted Clip for Thursday, March 17, 2011:

"Disaster Preparedness: Could the U.S. Hold Water?"

Unlike desperate countries like Haiti, many experts agree that so far Japan, a developed country, has fared well overall in disaster preparedness, which is measured by the country's immediate response following an earthquake and tsunami.

Lessons from Japan: US Leaders, Forget Special Interests and Protect Our Future

Lessons from Japan: US Leaders, Forget Special Interests and Protect Our Future

A USA Today article brings attention to an important message from the earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan: the infrastructures in many earthquake-prone cities in this country are not strong enough to withstand large-scale natural disasters. As our nation’s leaders continue to engage in a tug-of-war over tax cuts for the wealthy and limiting rights for union workers,  systems that will protect our schools, dams and nuclear plants and create jobs continue to take a back seat. It’s time to turn our attention away from special interests and to focus on proactive planning that will prepare a holistically secure future for all Americans.

Highlighted Clip for Monday, March 14, 2011:

"Japanese earthquake sends sobering message for USA"
Of all the disasters that can wreak havoc, earthquakes stand out for not being entirely natural. To a farmer in a field, a quake is a strange and frightening occurrence, but probably not life threatening. In cities, however, the man-made structures that provide shelter from other disasters can turn into a lethal enemy. Add a tsunami, and farmer and city dweller alike could be swamped.