People Unmotivated to Prepare for Next Disaster

Even after 9/11, hurricanes galore, raging forest fires, and other miscellaneous natural or human caused disasters, people still live under the illusion that it won't happen to them and that they are safe. A recent study says Californians are unmotivated to prepare for the next disaster. While this article focuses on California, I think the feeling permeates through all of humanity.

According to the article,

"Californians believe that their state is prone to disasters, but see little motivation to prepare for nature's crushing blows, a new poll has found.

The poll, sponsored by the Insurance Information Network of California and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, found that only 22 percent of Californians consider themselves to be prepared or very prepared for a disaster in their area.

Nearly half singled out 'common sense' as the reason to prepare for disaster, but noted few incentives that would motivate them to be ready for future earthquakes, floods or fires"

So, everyone knows they should prepare, but no is motivated to prepare. The article also says that, "Californians also do not believe that they should count on government to bail them out financially after the next catastrophe." I think people are giving the reasonable, logical answer to the pollsters, there, but not the emotional answer.

I know that besides having insurance, Erin and I are not prepared for an emergency. We have taken none of the basic precautions that are necessary. Some preparedness sites are even more extensive. Yet, I am well aware of the natural disasters that can occur in this area (tornados and large storms are most common, earthquakes*, hurricanes**, and even super volcanoes***). In these troubled times there are also terrorist attacks that hit around this area. Still, we sit in the seat of complacency, assured without reason that these things will not affect us.

What's even worse, is that even as I write this, I know it will not motivate us to become prepared. Are we idiots or what?

Footnotes:
* The Eastern Tennessee seismic zone and the New Madrid seismic zone have both affected the middle Alabama area in the past.

** Even though we are about 200 miles inland from the Gulf, Category 1 and 2 winds from a large hurricane can still do a lot of damage in this area.

*** I remember watching a Discovery Channel show about the Yellow Stone caldera and was shocked at how those scientists predicted that an explosion would affect us.