People tend to shy away from things negative, or negative people. Since Emergency Management is all about negativity (well, what we prepare for), people will not see it as positive, until it's too late.

So, you might try spinning it to be positive. I remember a generator company showing commercials in Florida after the Hurricanes of 2004, showing a family being "comfortable and having fun" in their house with their trusty generator. I think there were some specs about how long the fuel would last, but they made the behemoth look like it belonged in the yard and was the source of the family's enjoyment.

Maybe you can try the infomercial approach? "Are you tired of your elderly family members freezing up in their beds? Thirsty as hell but not a drop to drink from the taps? Tired of electronic entertainment that doesn't function when the electricity is out? Introducing the FEMA approved 72 hour disaster kit. Includes water, gloves, pry bar, blanket and MORE! If you call within the next 15 minutes, we'll throw in a Pocket Survival Pak by Doug Ritter for FREE! That's a $30 value!"