The public service announcements were created pro bono by advertising agency Leo Burnett and convey a message that you never know when disaster will strike. “This year’s wildfires, the derecho and Hurricane Isaac are all important reminders that disasters can happen anytime, anywhere,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in a press release. “By taking steps now to prepare for emergencies, we ensure that our families and communities are prepared to respond and recover from all types of disasters and hazards.”
The new television, radio, outdoor, print and digital ads try to paint a picture of the importance of preparedness by using real people and emergencies.
FEMA recommends Americans do the following do prepare:
- Get an emergency kit.
- Make a family emergency plan.
- Be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area and the appropriate response to those.
- Get involved by finding opportunities to support community preparedness.
An Ad Council tracking study in 2011 suggests that Americans have a way to go to become resilient in their communities. In the study, just 17 percent of respondents considered themselves to be very prepared and 40 percent had not taken any action to prepare for a natural disaster.
“Our research shows that people are not inclined to prepare because they believe an emergency won’t happen in their community,” said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council.
Here is an example of one of the TV advertisements:
