Identifying target audiences for institutional presentations

Target Audience Disaster

Earthquakes that lead to giant tsunamis are rare but explosive occurrences. These natural disasters affect all countries that border the large oceans of planet earth. Domestically, within America, these threats are realized on all cities that live on or near ocean coastlines. Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, Charlotte, Washington D.C. And hundreds of other smaller cities and communities are at risk. Emergency preparedness is valuable to anyone and everyone, however some people are in better position to positively effect the community safety standards if such an emergency was to arise.

The purpose of this essay is to establish and specify a target audience for my presentation on emergency response. In my presentation I would like to target all residents of those communities that feel they are threatened by such disasters. I will also present a basic outline of my presentation to be directed at these citizens.

The local non-affiliated citizens within these at-risk zones, seem to have little or no power to help alleviate any type of wide scale disaster. It is my opinion this is due to the fact that most citizens believe that someone else, and usually within government, has taken care of the problem. The reliance on government and NGO's are impairing the common sense faculties of those who are in the best position to protect themselves. Local responsibility needs to be understood and adopted by those who value their own communities.

The target audience is everyone who has interest in the protection of their own community. Taking responsibility for one's own actions and plans not only empowers the individual, but leaves untapped resources to be applied to those who cannot act on their own accord. Personal and individual responsibility will bring cooperation to the forefront. Neighbors helping neighbors in tight knit communities have a better chance of establishing local and specific remedies for problems federal authorities overlook due to sweeping generalizations.

New Orleans, in 2005, was invaded by federal forces, some good, most not, because of a perceived inability to protect themselves from Hurricane Katrina. Crime and chaos resulted because of ignorance and passivity. While those who had the foresight to protect themselves and their property escaped being caught within a bureaucratic nightmare. Recalling a confused Michael "Brownie" Brown, who knew nothing of New Orleans or anything related to emergency response. Hsu (2005) recalled "A misunderstanding of national disaster plan roles, communications failures, delayed decision-making and absent voices of leadership mark the documents, which came as a partial response by FEMA's parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security."