PrepTalks: Dr. Howard Kunreuther “Human Biases: Why People Underprepare for Disasters”

• 2020

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• Howard Kunreuther

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The PrepTalk by Dr. Howard Kunreuther talks about about why people often don't prepare well for disasters. He explains that human biases, like thinking "it won't happen to me," lead to underpreparation. People tend to ignore risks or delay taking action because they believe disasters are unlikely or too far in the future. Dr. Kunreuther suggests ways to overcome these biases, such as better communication and incentives for preparation.

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Tags

Focus Areas: Everyday Emergency; Infrastructure Failure; Natural Disasters; Severe Weather

Audience: Emergency Managers

Emergency Management Stage: Preparedness (Prevention / Protection)

Keywords: Decision Making; Disaster Planning; Disasters; Risk Assessment

Institutions: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

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