Disaster preparedness: an analysis of public safety agency and community preparedness during the northridge earthquake

It is a “given” within the emergency management field that preparedness is absolutely essential for disaster survival. It is also a “given” that preparedness for disasters is frequently accorded a low priority by public safety agencies and citizens, particularly in light of the low frequency over time that disasters impact the local community. The purpose of this article is to highlight the importance of preparedness by public safety first responders and community residents through analysis of the dynamics of the most costly disaster in the history of the United States. This article, through participant observation of the public safety agency response and through surveying of the community within the epicenter, illuminates the lessons learned during the Northridge earthquake in order to enhance the management of future catastrophic events by those destined for such experiences.