Citation

Cretikos MA, Eastwood K, Dalton C, Merritt T, Tuyl F, Winn L, Durrheim DN. BMC Public Health 2008; 8(1): 195.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1471-2458-8-195

PMID

18533010

PMCID

PMC2443139

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is well understood that the effectiveness of public information strategies can determine the success of a disaster response. The level of community preparedness is also known to be important in determining the impact of a disaster. However, very little is known about levels of household disaster preparedness or about information sources used by households before and during disasters. We investigated these issues immediately after a storm-related natural disaster in New South Wales, Australia, in order to better understand the most effective methods of communicating public health messages during a disaster, and to improve preparedness for future disasters. METHODS: Rapid cluster survey of 320 randomly selected households in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. RESULTS: 227 households (71%) responded to the survey. By the day before the storm, 48% (95%CI 40-57%) of households were aware of a storm warning, principally through television (67%; 58-75%) and radio (57%; 49-66%) announcements. Storm preparations were made by 42% (28-56%) of these households. Storm information sources included: radio (78%; 68-88%); family, friends, colleagues and neighbours (50%; 40-60%); and television (41%; 30-52%). Radio was considered more useful than television (62%; 51-73% vs. 29%; 18-40%), even in households where electricity supply was uninterrupted (52%; 31-73% vs. 41%; 20-63%). Only 23% (16-30%) of households were aware that the local government-operated radio network has a designated communication role during disasters. A battery-operated household radio and appropriate batteries were available in 42% (34-50%) of households, while only 23% (16-29%) had all of: a torch, battery-operated radio, appropriate batteries, mobile phone, emergency contact list and first aid equipment. CONCLUSIONS: Local broadcast media networks, particularly radio networks, are important and useful sources of information for communities affected by disasters. Radio proved particularly valuable in providing information to communities affected by electricity interruptions. However, most surveyed households were not adequately prepared for a disaster. To ensure effective communication of health advice during disasters, health services should promote the role of radio networks during a disaster, together with household disaster preparedness in general. Formal arrangements between media networks and emergency service organisations are needed to facilitate communication during a disaster.

Language: en