August 13, 2004 -- Volume 2, Number 9

Communications Gap: Most Americans Are Not Prepared

Excerpt reprinted from:

We The People:

Homeland Security from the Citizen’s Perspective

Council for Excellence In Government

Report and Recommendations for Action

May 2004

www.excelgov.org

Despite their fear that another terrorist attack will occur, most Americans have not yet taken basic steps to prepare themselves and their families. Progress has been made but significant challenges remain. Four in ten (41%) have assembled an emergency kit with food, water, batteries, first aid, and other supplies. Significantly fewer have looked for information about what to do (34%) or developed a plan for communicating with their families in the event of an attack. Three in ten (30%) have taken a training class in civil preparedness, first aid, or CPR.

Audience members in our town hall meetings echoed these findings when asked about their own levels of

preparedness.

While many organizations have existing emergency plans and other preparedness information to the public on websites and in publications, these plans are often not well-known or rehearsed. Furthermore, plans are generally not linked to one another. This lack of awareness and coordination is likely to lead to confusion in the event of an actual emergency. For example, parents have little understanding of their children’s school plans, and have not considered contingencies if an emergency occurs while they are at work and their children are at school.

Information about homeland security is available to citizens on numerous websites. But, it often takes fewer mouse clicks to buy a bestseller from Amazon.com than to find the emergency plans of some of the nation’s major cities on the web. To encourage use, the information must be marketed through many channels of communication, including the media, schools and workplaces.

Innovation@Work

The Role of Local Newspapers— The Times of Trenton (NJ) is dedicating a public service op-ed every Monday during 2004 to information from the American Red Cross on all phases of emergency preparedness. The paper encourages readers to clip and post these for handy reference in their homes. www.nj.com/times/

Most first responders are aware of a communications gap with citizens. While three in ten (30%) say their

communication with citizens is very effective, a solid majority (60%) rates the communication between their agency and citizens as only somewhat effective and efficient. Marketing information to the public is not a primary skill set of first responders and government officials. The challenge we face requires unusual communication strategies and many trusted messengers.

Citizens Appreciate Government Efforts to Fight Terrorism

The American people recognize the tremendous effort made by local, state and federal agencies since September 11, 2001 and say they are very or somewhat satisfied in most areas of concern.

Citizens Want Active Roles in Homeland Security Americans say they are ready and willing to participate

in the promotion of homeland security. Three in five Americans (60%) say there is a role for the average

citizen, and roughly as many (62%) say they would be willing to volunteer time in their communities to help.