Dr. Joseph E. Trainor Dr. Joseph E. Trainor University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Disaster Research Center (DRC)Disaster Research Center (DRC)School of Public Policy and AdministrationSchool of Public Policy and Administration

Myths and Misconceptions of the Human Behavioral Response to Disasters

Who am I?Who am I?An AcademicAn Academic– Sociologist by trainingSociologist by training– Assistant Professor in a School of Public PolicyAssistant Professor in a School of Public Policy– Core Faculty, Disaster Research CenterCore Faculty, Disaster Research Center

ButBut– Have been to numerous disaster sitesHave been to numerous disaster sites– Analyses of organizations, systems, and individuals.Analyses of organizations, systems, and individuals.– Basic Research and Applied ResearchBasic Research and Applied Research– Grants from Scientific agencies Grants from Scientific agencies – Contracts from applied agencies Contracts from applied agencies

The Disaster Research Center?The Disaster Research Center?

DRC focuses on disasters at the systems, group, DRC focuses on disasters at the systems, group, organizational, and community levelorganizational, and community level

In this tradition, the center has conducted field and In this tradition, the center has conducted field and survey research on response to and recovery from survey research on response to and recovery from natural and technological disasters as well as many natural and technological disasters as well as many other community-wide crises other community-wide crises

DRC focuses on large scale, rapid onset, geographically DRC focuses on large scale, rapid onset, geographically bound events. The center has carried out systematic bound events. The center has carried out systematic studies on a broad range of disaster agents, including studies on a broad range of disaster agents, including hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous chemical incidents, plane crashes, and civil disturbances chemical incidents, plane crashes, and civil disturbances and riots. and riots.

Where do we do our work?Where do we do our work?

Although the bulk of our work is now done at the Although the bulk of our work is now done at the University of Delaware, since the Center’s inception we University of Delaware, since the Center’s inception we have conducted nearly 600 field studies, traveling to have conducted nearly 600 field studies, traveling to communities throughout the United States and to a communities throughout the United States and to a number of foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada, number of foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada, Japan, Italy, and TurkeyJapan, Italy, and Turkey

Faculty and staff are also very active in the national and Faculty and staff are also very active in the national and international disaster research communities at both the international disaster research communities at both the academic and practical level through conference academic and practical level through conference participation and consultationparticipation and consultation

The DRC Resource CollectionThe DRC Resource Collection

DRC serves as a repository for materials, focusing on DRC serves as a repository for materials, focusing on the social science aspects of disasters, collected by the social science aspects of disasters, collected by other agencies and researchers. DRC's specialized other agencies and researchers. DRC's specialized collection is the world's most complete collection on the collection is the world's most complete collection on the social and behavioral aspects of disasters--now social and behavioral aspects of disasters--now numbering more than 60,000 items. This resource is numbering more than 60,000 items. This resource is open to both interested scholars and researchers and open to both interested scholars and researchers and agencies involved in emergency management.agencies involved in emergency management.

DRC also has its own book, monograph, and report DRC also has its own book, monograph, and report series now numbering over 400 publications.series now numbering over 400 publications.

Graduate Programs Graduate Programs

SociologySociology

Energy and EnvironmentEnergy and Environment

Civil EngineeringCivil Engineering

Disaster Science and ManagementDisaster Science and Management– Terminal M.STerminal M.S– Thesis M.SThesis M.S– Ph.D.Ph.D.

What are “ Disaster Myths” ?What are “ Disaster Myths” ?Over the last half century many behavioral Over the last half century many behavioral studies have been conducted on how people studies have been conducted on how people respond to disasters in the USA .respond to disasters in the USA .

In the process of conducting those studies In the process of conducting those studies social scientists noticed a number of social scientists noticed a number of misconceptions, misinterpretations, and false misconceptions, misinterpretations, and false assumptions about how people respond. assumptions about how people respond.

Researchers have begun to refer to these Researchers have begun to refer to these observations as “disaster myths”observations as “disaster myths”. .

Why do we Believe the Disaster Why do we Believe the Disaster Mythology?Mythology?

Most of us have little direct Most of us have little direct experience with real disasters.experience with real disasters.The primary source of information in the The primary source of information in the USA is Media. USA is Media.

– We believe that what we see on tv and We believe that what we see on tv and in print is “reality”in print is “reality”

– These images are reinforced by pop These images are reinforced by pop culture and other media sources. culture and other media sources.

Before we talk about “myths” it is important Before we talk about “myths” it is important to review a few limitations of the paradigmto review a few limitations of the paradigm1.1. These observations are meant to illustrate These observations are meant to illustrate

the broad patterns in response not to say the broad patterns in response not to say these never happen. The “myth” is that these never happen. The “myth” is that these are common responses it is not a these are common responses it is not a suggestion that these things never happen. suggestion that these things never happen.

2.2. Most were developed looking at “disasters” Most were developed looking at “disasters” there is room for reevaluation in there is room for reevaluation in catastrophes.catastrophes.

3.3. Under “special conditions” some of these Under “special conditions” some of these broad patterns may not hold true. broad patterns may not hold true.

A Caveat on the Term “Myths”A Caveat on the Term “Myths”

So….So….

With the proper Caveats given I was asked to With the proper Caveats given I was asked to discuss some myths of the human behavioral discuss some myths of the human behavioral response to disasters.response to disasters.

This is not and exhaustive list. It is simply a This is not and exhaustive list. It is simply a selection of issues based on historic and recent selection of issues based on historic and recent finding that illustrate a few inconsistencies in finding that illustrate a few inconsistencies in expectation and empirical findings.expectation and empirical findings.

More than anything the list is meant to make More than anything the list is meant to make people think about the assumptions they bring to people think about the assumptions they bring to the creation of a system.the creation of a system.

Myth #1- Organizations are the Myth #1- Organizations are the First RespondersFirst Responders

Myth:Myth: When disasters occurs people will When disasters occurs people will need organizations to take over in order to need organizations to take over in order to bring order to the chaos of a disaster. bring order to the chaos of a disaster. Consequences:Consequences: Individuals and unofficial Individuals and unofficial organizations are often seen as an organizations are often seen as an inconvenience to be “dealt with.” If they inconvenience to be “dealt with.” If they cannot be integrate they must be “pushed cannot be integrate they must be “pushed off the pile.”off the pile.”Reality:Reality: Extensive studies have shown Extensive studies have shown that convergence and helping behavior that convergence and helping behavior are very typical responses to disasters. are very typical responses to disasters. Particularly in the case of major events Particularly in the case of major events the resources that are brought provide a the resources that are brought provide a substantial proportion of total capacity. substantial proportion of total capacity. Sometimes effectiveness if more Sometimes effectiveness if more important than efficiency. The excess important than efficiency. The excess resources can allow for effective albeit resources can allow for effective albeit inefficient responses. inefficient responses.

Myth #2-Alerts Cause “Mass Myth #2-Alerts Cause “Mass Panic”Panic”

Myth:Myth: When disasters occurs victims will When disasters occurs victims will panic and engage in any behavior deemed panic and engage in any behavior deemed necessary at the moment to facilitate necessary at the moment to facilitate escape.escape.Consequences:Consequences: warnings are delayed until warnings are delayed until deemed absolutely necessary in order to deemed absolutely necessary in order to avoid panicavoid panicReality:Reality: Extensive studies have shown that Extensive studies have shown that the greater issue is fighting what we the greater issue is fighting what we sociologist call “normalcy bias” think about sociologist call “normalcy bias” think about the last time you heard a fire alarm go off in the last time you heard a fire alarm go off in a building. Did you run for the door? a building. Did you run for the door? Probably not. Probably not.

Myth #3- People Who Don’t Comply with Myth #3- People Who Don’t Comply with Recommendations are Irrational or “Stupid”Recommendations are Irrational or “Stupid”

Warning Process (Donner, 2007: Modified version of Mileti and Sorenson): Receive the Warning-People must physically receive a warning.

Understand the Warning-Once people receive a warning they must be able to process the message and understand what it means.

Believe the warning is credible-People must believe that the source of the warning is reliable and the threat could materialize

Confirm the threat-People must take steps in order to verify that the threat described in the warning is real.

Personalize the threat-People must believe that the threat is something that can potentially effect them.

Determine whether or not protective action is needed-People need to decide if they need to take action.

Determine whether protective action is feasible-People need to decide if they are able to take action.

Decide if you have the Resources to Take Protective Action- Finally people need to have the resources to actually do what is required  

Myth #4: Disasters Lead to Widespread Myth #4: Disasters Lead to Widespread Social Breakdown and Looting Social Breakdown and Looting

Myth:Myth: Looting is widespread in Looting is widespread in the aftermath of disasters.the aftermath of disasters.Consequences:Consequences: National Guard National Guard and other valuable resources and other valuable resources are diverted to “maintain order.” are diverted to “maintain order.” People refuse to leave People refuse to leave dangerous locations for fear of dangerous locations for fear of their homes being looted.their homes being looted.Reality: Reality: Looting in disasters is a Looting in disasters is a rare occurrence. When it does rare occurrence. When it does occur it is most often a reflection occur it is most often a reflection of existing social forces not of existing social forces not breakdown. It is more likely to breakdown. It is more likely to see appropriating or “pro-social” see appropriating or “pro-social” behavior.behavior.

Myth #5- ContagionMyth #5- ContagionMyth:Myth: People who converge People who converge on disaster sites may not on disaster sites may not arrive with bad intentions, but arrive with bad intentions, but after arriving get caught up in after arriving get caught up in the crowd and engage in anti the crowd and engage in anti social behavior. social behavior. Reality: Reality: People converge on People converge on the scene of disasters for the scene of disasters for many different reasons. It is many different reasons. It is very rare that a person would very rare that a person would simply be swept into a crowd simply be swept into a crowd mentality. mentality.

Myth #6-Psychological Myth #6-Psychological DependencyDependency

Myth:Myth: It is often though that It is often though that survivors at the scene of a survivors at the scene of a disaster are too “out of it” to know disaster are too “out of it” to know what to do without direction.what to do without direction.Consequences:Consequences: It is often thought It is often thought that formal systems are needed that formal systems are needed and that these responders are not and that these responders are not a reliable resource.a reliable resource.Reality: Reality: Survivors are the real first Survivors are the real first responders. Many studies have responders. Many studies have shown that in the wake of disaster shown that in the wake of disaster it is other victims that provide it is other victims that provide primary assistance.primary assistance.

Myth#7- Role Abandonment Myth#7- Role Abandonment

Myth:Myth: After disasters public After disasters public servants will be too focused on servants will be too focused on their homes and families to deal their homes and families to deal with other people’s problems and with other people’s problems and just will not show up to work. just will not show up to work. Consequences:Consequences: Politicians and Politicians and local leaders focus attention on local leaders focus attention on how to convince people to stay how to convince people to stay and do their jobs.and do their jobs.Reality: Reality: Again this is relatively Again this is relatively rare. The reality is responders rare. The reality is responders have better info. Know if they are have better info. Know if they are safe and can make more informed safe and can make more informed protective decisions. Also tend to protective decisions. Also tend to be a committed group. be a committed group.

Myth #8- Coordination is Mostly a Myth #8- Coordination is Mostly a Technical ProblemTechnical Problem

Myth: Myth: The reason that people and The reason that people and agencies have difficulty working agencies have difficulty working together just has to do with together just has to do with radios, terminology, and radios, terminology, and Consequences: Consequences: EM agencies EM agencies have focused on only technical have focused on only technical solutions such as 800mhz radios solutions such as 800mhz radios and NIMS. and NIMS. Reality: Reality: There are many reasons There are many reasons people do not coordinate. It has people do not coordinate. It has been found that most of these been found that most of these have to do with trust, familiarity, have to do with trust, familiarity, and common expectations . and common expectations . Knowing people is as important Knowing people is as important as learning systems. as learning systems.

Myth #9-Plans and Planning are Myth #9-Plans and Planning are the Same Thingthe Same Thing

Myth:Myth: The goal of creating The goal of creating EOPs , COOP plans, recovery EOPs , COOP plans, recovery plans, etc. is having a document plans, etc. is having a document to refer to in a disaster. to refer to in a disaster. Consequences: Consequences: Agencies trade Agencies trade plans and swap names, do little plans and swap names, do little to review and adjust, and the to review and adjust, and the documents collect dust more documents collect dust more than they ever help anyone. than they ever help anyone. Reality: Reality: Plans are really only Plans are really only good for meeting legislative good for meeting legislative mandates. The process of mandates. The process of planning is what actually planning is what actually provides most of the value provides most of the value added.added.

Insert Your Name Here

Insert Your Seal Here

Congratulations on your New Plan!

Myth #10-More policies, managerial Myth #10-More policies, managerial control, and rules lead to better control, and rules lead to better

responseresponseMyth: Myth: Organizations and the logic of Organizations and the logic of rules are always better during rules are always better during disasters than human intuition.disasters than human intuition.Consequences: Consequences: After major After major disasters the way to avoid the same disasters the way to avoid the same situation in the future is to make situation in the future is to make new plans, policies, and rules.new plans, policies, and rules.Reality: Reality: It is important that all It is important that all responses balance discipline and responses balance discipline and agility. This means that some agility. This means that some elements will be scripted but that elements will be scripted but that others will need to be improvised. others will need to be improvised.