Recency Effect’s Role in Disaster Planning and Preparedness

The writing is on the wall. Budget struggles at all levels of government, and the likelihood federal support for disasters will be reduced or even go away completely. It brings to mind the recency effect; a mental shortcut where people tend to remember recent events or info better than things they’ve not experienced for a long time (or ever). In the context of emergency management, it plays both a subtle and powerful role, explaining why disaster planning is stronger after a significant incident occurs and then loses momentum as our memory of the disaster fades. The Recency Effect and Its…