ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces public disaster preparedness education and the concepts that guide its successful practice. It provides a short overview of the experience gleaned in the public health sector, where risk communication efforts have advanced most significantly. Communication science is a field of practice and research that has great potential to advance the preparedness efforts of businesses and communities alike. The chapter explains the foundational elements of preparedness education, its goals, limitations, and requirements. Social marketing is the practice of utilizing marketing concepts, whether on their own or in conjunction with other communication approaches, to influence positive behaviours among individuals or designated target populations. In order to overcome these formidable social and psychological obstacles, preparedness education aimed at raising hazard risk awareness must be as accurate, trustworthy, and effective as possible. The chapter organizes the disaster preparedness campaign planning approach based on three separate phases: early planning; developing a campaign strategy; and implementing and evaluating the campaign.
