Availability Biase in Disasters

The dynamics of memory help explain the recurrent cycles of disaster concern and growing complacency that are familiar to students of large scale emergencies. After each significant earthquake, californians are diligent in purchasing insurance and adopting measures of protection and mitigation. Images of a worse disaster do not come easily to mind availability and affect decision-making. As long ago as parionic egypt, societies have tracked the high water mark of rivers that periodically flood, and have always prepared accordingly.