Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that peoples' perceptions of household seismic adjustments, in addition to their perceptions of earthquakes themselves, should predict the likelihood that seismic adjustments are performed. However, little research has been done to address this issue. While recent research has found peoples' perceptions of the effectiveness of household adjustments to influence adjustment levels, people's perceptions of inconvenience of household seismic adjustments - namely the cost, time effort, required cooperation and required knowledge involved in making these adjustments - have been found to not influence seismic adjustment. However, this study did find that the higher the perceived inconveniences of an adjustment, the less likely people are to perform those adjustments. As a second area of investigation, a survey was given to subjects in an understudied risk population (residents living along the Wasatch Fault Line that runs through the state of Utah) to compare Utahns to Washingtonians and Californians. The survey revealed that although California residents have the highest risk perceptions and the most previous earthquake experience, they rank lower than Washington and Utah residents in terms of how much they think, talk, and gather information about earthquakes. Implications of both areas of research are discussed.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Amy L. Mathes, for Doctor of Philosophy degree in HEALTH EDUCATION, presented on May 8, 2013, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: PROMISING PRACTICES: A CASE STUDY ON PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Kathleen Welshimer There is little published literature on operational coordination during a real time disaster regardless of the setting. This study describes a university's emergency management plan and its execution in response to a specific natural disaster, the May 8, 2009 "inland hurricane," which was later classified as a "Super Derecho." The case study design allowed for an in-depth exploration into the intricacy and complexity of an emergency response by interviewing individuals present in the CEOC and others from State Police, local EMA agencies, local health departments, and IEMA, document analysis of the Campus All-Hazards Emergency Preparedness and Violence Prevention Plan (CAHEPVPP), Situation Reports, Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and National Incident Management Agency (NIMS) documents. This study will assist public health emergency preparedness officials in higher education to educate students and development of proactive development of planning and response during a real disaster. This study will also provide contributions to universities regarding mitigation, planning, response, and recovery activities. It shows the value of proactive, forward-thinking leadership from day-to-day preparedness activities to response and recovery efforts.

The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program partnered with the National Weather Service (NWS) in 2000 to create the TsunamiReadyTM (TR) Community program. TR is designed to help communities in coastal areas plan and prepare for tsunamis. To achieve TR recognition communities must meet certain criteria including specific emergency planning and management actions within the categories of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. This study’s purpose was to evaluate the acceptability and usefulness of key components of a proposed revised set of TR Community program guidelines. Research was guided by the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) using Community Based Participatory Research methods to gather input from expert panels composed of local expert community stakeholders from 5 states and 1 US territory. Two qualitative data collection methods were used: online prediscussion surveys administered via Survey Monkey© and focus group discussions. Fifty participants attended 1 of 6 focus group discussions, with 20 participants completing surveys. Data analysis focused on 8 discussion topics: subdivision of communities by vulnerability, proportion of the population to be protected, evacuation effectiveness, evacuation drills or exercises, vertical evacuation, educating businesses, educating residents, and acceptability of a revised guidelines format. Supporting and opposing themes were identified, providing rich information of community-level perceptions regarding the guidelines. Most notably, the fidelity of the 2 ELM pathways were confirmed as separate. The peripheral pathway demonstrated a significant need for clarification and definition of program terms and activities through the surveys, while focus groups facilitated the central pathway for participants to discuss and debate various program guidelines. This study provides several recommendations based on community input for updating and revising the TR Community program guidelines including: revisions to the overall format, a new focus on community tsunami hazard, and additional actions and activities to improve community tsunami mitigation and preparedness efforts. Finally, the data and recommendations provided will be used to compile a final draft of the TR Community program guidelines for the NWS.

As the number of people affected by natural and man-made disasters increases, so does the need for emergency preparedness education. Previous research has indicated that education and training can have an impact on the resiliency of individuals, families, and communities. The use of Extension professionals in regional and county offices across each state is an effective means for education. In this study, family and consumer sciences (FCS) county Extension faculty in the Western Region of the United States were surveyed to determine the best practices used and perceptions of the importance and their ability to educate individuals, families, and communities on emergency preparedness. Many respondents agreed on effective strategies to recruit individuals to Extension programming. Overall, FCS county Extension faculty indicated that emergency preparedness being offered was important; however, they did not think they had adequate knowledge or ability to educate on many emergency preparedness topics.

As Extension begins to develop educational program delivery strategies for Emergency Preparedness and Management education, the major challenge will be to establish a culture among county agriculture and natural resources (ANR) Extension agents to integrate this educational programming into ongoing programming to ensure added value to this innovation and its unit of adoption. The attitudes and perceptions of these ANR agents in overall programming efforts will be extremely important for adoption and further dissemination of Emergency Preparedness and Management education to all clientele; therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine what Extension ANR agents perceived as advantages and obstacles associated with the organization and implementation of Emergency Preparedness and Management education and the necessity for establishing local animal issues committees. The study population was Texas AgriLife Extension Service ANR agents. The agents were from both rural and urban counties, in various stages in their careers and various stages of the organization, facilitation and implementation of Emergency Preparedness and Management education and animal issues committee establishment. An online instrument was developed based on a review of related literature. The instrument had 19 total question sets pertaining to the 4 objectives of the study and included matrix, multiple choice and yes/no questions. Questions to obtain demographic information (gender, age, Extension affiliation, years of employment with Extension, and county size) were also asked. Results indicated ANR agents felt Extension should be involved in the organization, planning and implementation of educational efforts in Emergency Preparedness and Management and also the establishment and maintenance of Animal Issues Committees. ANR agents indicated Extension?s best approach would be to help identify innovators, adopters and the resources needed for Emergency Preparedness and Management and Animal Issues Committees. The success or failure of educational programming for Emergency Management depends on the help or assistance that is provided by the key stakeholders and agencies in counties. From this study, it is apparent local stakeholder and agency involvement has been an advantage and obstacle for Texas AgriLife Extension ANR agents in the state of Texas.

During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, public health nurses (PHNs) were called upon to protect their communities against a deadly influenza virus. Currently, there appears to be no literature that describes the experience of Canadian PHNs responding to the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. A qualitative research study was conducted and the data were analyzed by using content analysis. Thirteen nurses were interviewed from an Urban, Rural and Northern health region in Manitoba. Focus groups were conducted for the Urban and Rural nurses while Northern nurses were interviewed by telephone. Communication and dissemination of information, personal and professional challenges, personal face of the pandemic, regional support and lessons learned were themes generated from the data analysis. Communication and information flow was a major theme that impacted the overall PHNs’ response experience. Practice, administration, research and education implications and the limitations of the study are presented in the study.

During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, public health nurses (PHNs) were called upon to protect their communities against a deadly influenza virus. Currently, there appears to be no literature that describes the experience of Canadian PHNs responding to the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. A qualitative research study was conducted and the data were analyzed by using content analysis. Thirteen nurses were interviewed from an Urban, Rural and Northern health region in Manitoba. Focus groups were conducted for the Urban and Rural nurses while Northern nurses were interviewed by telephone. Communication and dissemination of information, personal and professional challenges, personal face of the pandemic, regional support and lessons learned were themes generated from the data analysis. Communication and information flow was a major theme that impacted the overall PHNs’ response experience. Practice, administration, research and education implications and the limitations of the study are presented in the study.

This dissertation is about the factors that influence heat wave preparedness of Midwestern health departments, and the climate change perceptions of public health officials. Heat waves have historically impacted the Midwest and, due to the variable pattern of these events, are full of uncertainties. Climate change intensifies the threat of heat waves; therefore, it is important for public health officials to incorporate methods for addressing climate change into their short and long term plans and preparedness models. This study is unique, because it goes beyond previous work that has been done with heat wave preparedness by speaking with public health officials to understand the complexities of heat wave planning. Applying a comparative case study methodology to this study was important to see how three states, in varying stages of climate change preparedness, function regarding emergency planning, decision making, and collaboration. Further, interview discussions regarding climate change demonstrate the need to further assist public health with their mitigation and adaptation efforts. Topics within Chapter One describe the study framework, study significance, discuss the incorporated methodology, and the dissemination of results. In Chapter Two, I construct the scholarly framework for this study by examining climate change and public health impacts, how policy shapes program planning with regard to heat waves, the sociological implications of heat waves including communicative properties and community organizing, and heat wave preparedness plan evaluation. Chapter Three focuses on the methodology guiding this project as well as the research questions. Research questions focused on preparation for heat waves, communication among state and local health departments, climate change perceptions of health officials, and finally, the influence of grant funding on preparedness efforts. This study was constructed using an interpretive paradigm to guide a comparative case study framework for comparing heat wave preparedness of three Midwestern States. Using document analysis and semi-structured interviews, I was able to discuss the concept of preparedness with public health officials including emergency preparedness coordinators, environmental health directors, and emergency managers. In Chapters Four and Five, I developed the uniqueness of each case, and then built a broader story by examining findings across the cases. I met with 22 individuals representing fourteen local health departments, two state health departments, one city health department, two emergency management agencies, and one state climatologist office. Analysis was threaded into both Chapters Four and Five by exploring within (locality, misconception, and camaraderie) and cross (passive leadership, transitions, expectations, reputation, and strategies) case themes. In Chapter Six, I discuss the study findings by incorporating the social ecological model as well as cited literature. Finally, Chapter Seven revisits the study significance and implications for best possible practices in health and public health education. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to public health, and heat waves are only one anticipated threat from enhanced warming. This study sheds light on the importance of climate literacy and preparedness for all-hazards approaches in public health planning.

Vårt syfte med undersökningen är att granska pedagogers pågående och efter krisarbete i förskolan samt hur pedagoger stötar och möter barn i en krissituation. Vi vill bidra med kunskap om resiliens och hur pedagoger kan arbeta med resiliens för att förhindra psykiska problem i framtiden. Vi valde att skicka ut förfrågan till pedagoger i förskolan. Vår idé var att få information från olika pedagoger från olika förskolor om hur man arbetar med krissituationer. När vi samlat in material från pedagogerna kopplar vi deras svar till våra teorier och tidigare forskning. Vår undersökning ger pedagoger tillgång till hur en välutvecklad krishandlingsplan kan stödja barn i kris. Det framkom i svaren från vår undersökning att de flesta förskolor använder en krishandlingsplan och pedagoger anser att de var väl förberedda för en kris. Det fanns dock ingen krishandlingsplan i utbrottet av pandemier. Pedagogerna beskrev att de saknar information om COVID-19-pandemin och ville ha en krishandlingsplan med tydliga riktlinjer att följa för att kunna agera snabbare i ett pandemiutbrott. / Our purpose with the examination is to review pedagogues’ ongoing and post-crisis work in preschool as well as how pedagogue support and meet children in a crisis situation. We want to contribute with knowledge of resilience and how a pedagogue can work with resilience to prevent psychological problems in the future. We chose to send out inquiry to pedagogues in preschool. Our idea was to get information from different pedagogues from different preschools on how to work with crisis situations. When we collect material from the pedagogues, we link their responses to our theories and previous research. Our examination gives pedagogues access to how a well-developed crisis action plan can support children in crisis. It emerged in the responses from the inquiry that most preschools use a crisis action plan and the pedagogues consider that they were well prepared for a crisis. However, there was no crisis action plan in the outbreak of pandemics. The pedagogues described that they now lack information on the COVID-19 pandemic and wanted a crisis action plan with clear restrictions to follow in order to be able to act faster in a pandemic outbreak.

As the number of people affected by natural and man-made disasters increases, so does the need for emergency preparedness education. Previous research has indicated that education and training can have an impact on the resiliency of individuals, families, and communities. The use of Extension professionals in regional and county offices across each state is an effective means for education. In this study, family and consumer sciences (FCS) county Extension faculty in the Western Region of the United States were surveyed to determine the best practices used and perceptions of the importance and their ability to educate individuals, families, and communities on emergency preparedness. Many respondents agreed on effective strategies to recruit individuals to Extension programming. Overall, FCS county Extension faculty indicated that emergency preparedness being offered was important; however, they did not think they had adequate knowledge or ability to educate on many emergency preparedness topics.