Glossary / Lexicon

Continuum of preparedness

Continuum of preparedness refers to the idea that organisms are genetically disposed to learn some things and not others.

Continuum of preparedness is a framework used in psychology to understand how individuals and communities prepare for and respond to crises, disasters, and other traumatic events. It is based on the idea that preparedness is a process that occurs along a continuum, with individuals and communities at different stages of preparedness.

The continuum of preparedness includes the following stages:

  1. Pre-contemplation: Individuals or communities are not aware of the potential risks or do not believe that they are at risk. For example, someone may not believe that their community is at risk of flooding, and therefore does not take any measures to prepare for it.

  2. Contemplation: Individuals or communities become aware of the potential risks but may not know what actions to take. For example, someone may be aware that their community is at risk of flooding but may not know what steps to take to prepare for it.

  3. Preparation: Individuals or communities take action to prepare for potential risks. This may include creating a disaster kit, developing an emergency plan, or taking classes on first aid or disaster response.

  4. Action: Individuals or communities take immediate action during a crisis or disaster. This may include evacuating, seeking shelter, or providing emergency medical assistance.

  5. Recovery: Individuals or communities work to recover from the impact of the crisis or disaster. This may include rebuilding homes, seeking mental health services, or accessing financial assistance.

Examples of the continuum of preparedness in action include:

  • A community that is unaware of the risks of wildfires in their area (pre-contemplation).
  • A family that has heard about the risks of wildfires but has not taken any steps to prepare, such as creating a disaster kit or developing an evacuation plan (contemplation).
  • A family that has created a disaster kit, developed an evacuation plan, and has practiced emergency drills (preparation).
  • A family that evacuates their home immediately when a wildfire breaks out (action).
  • A community that works together to rebuild after a wildfire, accessing financial assistance and mental health services as needed (recovery).

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