Training Effects on Emergency Management Activation Response

Abstract

Emergency management personnel play an important role in keeping our citizens safe. This study considered whether local and long-term emergency management training could produce different behavioral reactions to severe weather situations. Results indicate a significant positive effect for both long-term and local training on emergency management behavioral response. Individuals with higher levels of training initiated a significantly higher proportion of emergency response activation. Discussion centers on the notion that while these results indicate training has an effect on behavioral reaction, quantity of training rather than the specific type of training was most important.