Don't blame the program director, 'blame' the millions of years of evolution behind her amygdalae, they are what are dictating her disaster response for her. Throughtout time our brains are telling us the best path to an abundant, fear-free future, free of starvation and risk and danger, and reminders that sudden disasters occur conflict with that message, and there's a hard urge to push it away (denial). Of course she resists the message, so does her audience. So do most politicians. Neuroscience is a couple levels above my pay grade, but its interesting the things they are learning about how our brains actually work. Some folks are working on getting disaster messages through despite resistance, usually it comes as a wild plant class or wilderness first aid. "Wax on, wax off" - was that really about buffing the man's car?

Never underestimate the power of denial.