Public complacency under repeated emergency threats: Some empirical evidence

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Wang, XiaoHu; Kapucu, Naim
• 署名单位: State University System of Florida; University of Central Florida
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1053-1858
• DOI: 10.1093/jopart/mum001
• 发表日期: 2008
• 页码: 57-78
• 关键词: risk communication; disaster

摘要

in the summer of 2004, the state of Florida was struck by four major hurricanes consecutively. Using data collected from jurisdictions experiencing hurricanes, this study examines public complacency defined as the tendency to ignore hurricane threat warnings. Results indicate that the public showed signs of complacency under repeated emergency threat warnings and there is a need to manage or reduce such tendency because a complacent public is less prepared for emergencies. Importantly, the study finds that the government plays a role in developing effective communication strategies to reduce public complacency and to enhance public preparedness in response to disasters.