As mobile technologies and social media channels continue to penetrate Americans’ communications behaviors, emergency managers are working diligently to ensure emergency communications keep pace. This is one of the findings from the 2013 Federal Signal Public Safety Survey, which examines some of the greatest challenges currently faced by emergency managers. The survey, following on the heels of September’s National Emergency Preparedness Month, comes as recent tragedies in Yosemite National Park and Aurora, Colo., remind Americans of the unpredictable and devastating effects man-made and natural disasters can have.
Now in its fourth year, and conducted again by Zogby, the annual report has traditionally surveyed the general public on safety awareness and emergency preparedness attitudes and behaviors. For the first time, however, this year’s survey shifts the conversation by asking emergency managers about the most significant challenges they face and the measures they are taking to address them.
“去年的联邦信号公共安全调查显示，当涉及应急准备和反应时，自满和缺乏安全意识是普遍的公众看法，”联邦信号的行业部门，安全集团安全和保安集团总裁Joe Wilson表示。“今年，我们希望评估问题应急经理人面临的复杂性，并揭示他们采取的行动以找到有效的解决方案。”
面对事实
随着技术景观继续转移，美国公众的通信方法正在增加，逐渐变得更加移动。2013年的研究表明，近三分之一（28％）的紧急经理将公众因其所面临的最大挑战确定了公众的多种沟通偏好。这些挑战包括有效地达到了越来越多的老人口，具有许多特殊语言和其他需求。对于具有听证和视觉障碍的人，身体限制和不同义务，通信偏好可能会超越传统的固定电话电话和电子邮件，以包括短信和社交媒体渠道等。
“The increase in the number of communication layers emergency managers are up against has drastically added to the complexity of developing an effective, all-encompassing communications program,” said Wilson. “Age, physical disabilities and cultural differences are human factors that they have always had to recognize and take into consideration, but rapid mobile and social media technology growth has only compounded the issue — making it not only challenging to reach community members wherever they are, but increasingly difficult to drive a sense of urgency.”
随着沟通偏好继续改变和多样化，紧急经理必须考虑一个分层方法，可以有效且有效地达到所有社区成员。这不仅包括启用新技术，而且还可以以驱动公民的方式成功将这些与传统通信方法集成 - 所有年龄，需求和通信偏好 - 采取行动。
推动公众的紧迫感
社区成员信任紧急经理，以便在紧急情况下为他们提供他们所需的工具，使他们在有效沟通方面不会留下任何石头。根据2012年联邦信号公共安全调查，超过一半的受访者（58％）信托当地和区域政府官员确保公共安全的公共安全标准，沟通和规划。
2012年调查结果发现，不到一半（47％）的社区成员将根据潜在的恶劣天气警告采取行动。根据2013年研究，它近四分之一（22％）的紧急经理人表示，近四分之一（22％）的紧急经理人表示，冷漠社区成员是他们最大的挑战。事实上，该研究发现只有20％的紧急经理人们认为他们的社区成员非常了解他们所在地区的现有警报和通知系统。
“紧急经理的目标是生成100 percent awareness among the community,” said Wilson. “It is critical that they not only ensure that families and community members have an emergency plan in place, but that they understand all of the possibilities for receiving real-time messages in emergency situations — from siren notifications, to a text message or email alert, and much more.”
In order to best reach community members, emergency managers need to consider the places where each of their citizens seeks information. As expected, one of the toughest challenges for emergency managers is the cost associated with new tools and equipment. The 2013 survey found that for 75 percent of emergency managers, the greatest deterrent to updating emergency communication systems is their budget. Yet, there are many ways to interact with the public that are simple and cost effective, many of which emergency managers have already embraced. According to the 2013 Federal Signal Public Safety Survey:
81％的人正在促进社区活动和会议的活动和计划
72％的人通过电子邮件，直接邮件和电话直接与其社区通信
67 percent are communicating with the public through a community website
需要更加“社会”
New technology enables community-wide engagement and can help drive emergency responsiveness among citizens — often at the touch of a button. This presents new opportunities for emergency managers to expand their reach. Only 55 percent of emergency managers are currently using Facebook as part of their alerting and notification system, and three-in-ten currently are not providing educational tools through websites and social media.
“通过评估现代技术，紧急经理可以通过新的方式补充通信计划，以采取更全面的外展方法并最终与更多的社区成员联系，”威尔逊说。
For more information on the 2013 Federal Signal Public Safety Survey, visit http://www.alertnotification.com/.
