Time Magazine has a great article describing our "National Culture of Unpreparedness." Explains things quite nicely.

Craig

Thanks for the heads up. I'll check that out.

Floods, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Wildfires, Earthquakes ... Why We Don't Prepare
That's the print link so it's much cleaner to read.

And it's very interesting.
J

There were some very, VERY interesting statements in that article. And some numbers that I would like sources on.

The biggest giggle I got out of it was the 16% that was "very prepared"- I wonder if the poll gave parameters, or if the average person on the street was left to thier own definitions.

Searching around I found the DHS report they referred to.
DHS Report Summary
DHS Report Details (pdf)

Also interesting stuff. And scary in a lot of ways. Holy moly, we're a nation of big dumb animals. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

J

At the same time, I'm guessing we aren't the only nation in self-denial on preparedness.

No, it's human nature. You have to ignore the remote possibilities, or you start to isolate yourself from others. Humans are a social species- even a few months in solitary can have major psychological effects. And when you fear everyone, you're basically (a) putting your self into a solitary condition, and (b) reenforcing the native paranoia that comes from having evolved from a four foot tall primate that ate a smaller number of species than it was eaten by.

Basically, you make yourself crazy. A lot of us probably are borderline, either to paranoid, or to obsessive-compulsive.

Of course it's human nature. My comment was more than a bit tongue-in-cheek.

And I consider myself neither paranoid nor OC. I like to think that most of us are pragmatic. Of course, it's not paranoia when they are out to get you. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You're quite welcome.

Here in Florida they are doing PSA's on TV that have the taped calls from people frantic in trying to get help during (insert any of the recent past hurricane names here). You hear these people calling and begging for help. "If you don't send someone.....we'll die...." " I'm sorry sir but we can not respond because of the storm." *silence*

Hopefully it will move at least a few people to do some preparation. Even if it is only to decide to drive far away early on.