Dr. Joseph E. Trainor University of Delaware Disaster Research Center (DRC)

1. Myths and Misconceptions of the Human Behavioral Response to Disasters Dr. Joseph E. Trainor University of Delaware Disaster Research Center (DRC) School of Public Policy and Administration

2. Who am I? • An Academic • Sociologist by training • Assistant Professor in a School of Public Policy • Core Faculty, Disaster Research Center • But • Have been to numerous disaster sites • Analyses of organizations, systems, and individuals. • Basic Research and Applied Research • Grants from Scientific agencies • Contracts from applied agencies

3. The Disaster Research Center? • DRC focuses on disasters at the systems, group, organizational, and community level • In this tradition, the center has conducted field and survey research on response to and recovery from natural and technological disasters as well as many other community-wide crises • DRC focuses on large scale, rapid onset, geographically bound events. The center has carried out systematic studies on a broad range of disaster agents, including hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous chemical incidents, plane crashes, and civil disturbances and riots.

4. Where do we do our work? • Although the bulk of our work is now done at the University of Delaware, since the Center’s inception we have conducted nearly 600 field studies, traveling to communities throughout the United States and to a number of foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada, Japan, Italy, and Turkey • Faculty and staff are also very active in the national and international disaster research communities at both the academic and practical level through conference participation and consultation

5. The DRC Resource Collection • DRC serves as a repository for materials, focusing on the social science aspects of disasters, collected by other agencies and researchers. DRC's specialized collection is the world's most complete collection on the social and behavioral aspects of disasters--now numbering more than 60,000 items. This resource is open to both interested scholars and researchers and agencies involved in emergency management. • DRC also has its own book, monograph, and report series now numbering over 400 publications.

6. Graduate Programs • Sociology • Energy and Environment • Civil Engineering • Disaster Science and Management • Terminal M.S • Thesis M.S • Ph.D.

7. What are “ Disaster Myths” ? • Over the last half century many behavioral studies have been conducted on how people respond to disasters in the USA . • In the process of conducting those studies social scientists noticed a number of misconceptions, misinterpretations, and false assumptions about how people respond. • Researchers have begun to refer to these observations as “disaster myths”.

8. Why do we Believe the Disaster Mythology? • Most of us have little direct experience with real disasters. • The primary source of information in the USA is Media. • We believe that what we see on tv and in print is “reality” • These images are reinforced by pop culture and other media sources.

9. A Caveat on the Term “Myths” • Before we talk about “myths” it is important to review a few limitations of the paradigm • These observations are meant to illustrate the broad patterns in response not to say these never happen. The “myth” is that these are common responses it is not a suggestion that these things never happen. • Most were developed looking at “disasters” there is room for reevaluation in catastrophes. • Under “special conditions” some of these broad patterns may not hold true.

10. So…. • With the proper Caveats given I was asked to discuss some myths of the human behavioral response to disasters. • This is not and exhaustive list. It is simply a selection of issues based on historic and recent finding that illustrate a few inconsistencies in expectation and empirical findings. • More than anything the list is meant to make people think about the assumptions they bring to the creation of a system.

11. Myth #1- Organizations are the First Responders • Myth: When disasters occurs people will need organizations to take over in order to bring order to the chaos of a disaster. • Consequences:Individuals and unofficial organizations are often seen as an inconvenience to be “dealt with.” If they cannot be integrate they must be “pushed off the pile.” • Reality: Extensive studies have shown that convergence and helping behavior are very typical responses to disasters. Particularly in the case of major events the resources that are brought provide a substantial proportion of total capacity. Sometimes effectiveness if more important than efficiency. The excess resources can allow for effective albeit inefficient responses.

12. Myth #2-Alerts Cause “Mass Panic” • Myth: When disasters occurs victims will panic and engage in any behavior deemed necessary at the moment to facilitate escape. • Consequences: warnings are delayed until deemed absolutely necessary in order to avoid panic • Reality: Extensive studies have shown that the greater issue is fighting what we sociologist call “normalcy bias” think about the last time you heard a fire alarm go off in a building. Did you run for the door? Probably not.

13. Myth #3- People Who Don’t Comply with 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

14. Myth #4: Disasters Lead to Widespread Social Breakdown and Looting • Myth: Looting is widespread in the aftermath of disasters. • Consequences: National Guard and other valuable resources are diverted to “maintain order.” People refuse to leave dangerous locations for fear of their homes being looted. • Reality: Looting in disasters is a rare occurrence. When it does occur it is most often a reflection of existing social forces not breakdown. It is more likely to see appropriating or “pro-social” behavior.

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

16. Myth #6-Psychological Dependency • Myth: It is often though that survivors at the scene of a disaster are too “out of it” to know what to do without direction. • Consequences: It is often thought that formal systems are needed and that these responders are not a reliable resource. • Reality: Survivors are the real first responders. Many studies have shown that in the wake of disaster it is other victims that provide primary assistance.

17. Myth#7- Role Abandonment • Myth: After disasters public servants will be too focused on their homes and families to deal with other people’s problems and just will not show up to work. • Consequences: Politicians and local leaders focus attention on how to convince people to stay and do their jobs. • Reality: Again this is relatively rare. The reality is responders have better info. Know if they are safe and can make more informed protective decisions. Also tend to be a committed group.

18. Myth #8- Coordination is Mostly a Technical Problem • Myth: The reason that people and agencies have difficulty working together just has to do with radios, terminology, and • Consequences: EM agencies have focused on only technical solutions such as 800mhz radios and NIMS. • Reality: There are many reasons people do not coordinate. It has been found that most of these have to do with trust, familiarity, and common expectations . Knowing people is as important as learning systems.

19. Myth #9-Plans and Planning are the Same Thing • Myth: The goal of creating EOPs , COOP plans, recovery plans, etc. is having a document to refer to in a disaster. • Consequences: Agencies trade plans and swap names, do little to review and adjust, and the documents collect dust more than they ever help anyone. • Reality: Plans are really only good for meeting legislative mandates. The process of planning is what actually provides most of the value added. Insert Your Name Here Insert Your Seal Here Congratulations on your New Plan!

20. Myth #10-More policies, managerial control, and rules lead to better response • Myth: Organizations and the logic of rules are always better during disasters than human intuition. • Consequences: After major disasters the way to avoid the same situation in the future is to make new plans, policies, and rules. • Reality: It is important that all responses balance discipline and agility. This means that some elements will be scripted but that others will need to be improvised.