FEMA, in partnership with organizations that collectively represent the emergency management profession, released today the eighth and final video presentation from the inaugural PrepTalks Symposium, Amanda Ripley’s “The Unthinkable: Lessons from Survivors.”
In her PrepTalk, Ripley combines the inspiring stories of disaster survivors with research into how the brain works when confronted with unusual events. “The more you have a sense of what you can do [in a crisis], the less likely that fear will shut down your response,” Ripley explains. “A little fear is good, but too much will shut down your cognitive response.” Ripley provides advice on steps she says emergency managers can take now to help individuals be more decisive in emergencies.
Ripley is a journalist and senior fellow at the Emerson Collective. She writes about disasters, education, and human behavior. Her bestselling book, “The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why,” has been published in 15 countries, and a documentary based on the book aired on the Public Broadcasting System in 2012.
Ripley’s presentation, the question-and-answer session that followed, a discussion guide, and additional reference materials are available at https://www.fema.gov/preptalks. This is the final video of eight produced from the PrepTalks Symposium held in Washington in January. The next PrepTalks Symposium is scheduled for fall of 2018.