If you’ve ever brought up disaster preparedness with your family and been met with eye rolls, jokes, or a quick “we don’t need that” -or my personal favourite, “it won’t happen here” - you’re not alone. Many people don’t resist preparedness because they’re careless. They resist it because it feels unnecessary, uncomfortable, unlikely… or overwhelming.

Doing Nothing Feels Easier than Doing it Wrong

For a lot of families, it’s not that they don’t care. It’s that they don’t know where to start - and doing nothing feels easier than doing it wrong. Understanding why people push back is the first step to having a productive conversation - without arguing or nagging.

Why People Resist Disaster Preparedness

Most resistance comes from one (or more) of these beliefs:

• “Nothing ever happens here.”

• “We’ve always been fine.”

• “Emergency services will take care of it.”

• “We’ll figure it out if it happens.”

• “I don’t want to think about worst-case scenarios.”

• “It’s just too much - where would we even start?”

These responses are human. Avoidance feels safer than imagining disruption. And when preparedness feels complicated or time-consuming, it’s easy to put it off. The problem is that emergencies don’t wait until people feel ready to think about them.

The Myth of “We’ll Figure It Out”

This is one of the most common - and most dangerous - assumptions. Yes, people are resourceful. But stress changes how we think. Decisions take longer. Communication breaks down. People argue, panic, or freeze.

Preparedness doesn’t remove flexibility - it reduces confusion.

Having a basic plan doesn’t mean you won’t adapt. It means you won’t start from zero.

Overwhelm Is a Bigger Barrier Than Fear

For many families, preparedness isn’t rejected because it’s scary - it’s rejected because it feels big.

• So much information.

• So many lists.

• So many opinions about what you “should” do.

When people don’t know where to start, the default response becomes:

“We’ll deal with it if it happens.”

Doing nothing feels simpler than doing something imperfect. The reality? Even a small amount of preparedness goes a long way.

Preparedness Isn’t About Fear — It’s About Ease

One reason preparedness gets rejected is because it’s often framed as extreme. Instead of talking about disasters, talk about disruptions:

• Power outages

• Extreme weather

• Road closures

• Water advisories

• Being unable to get home

Most people have lived through at least one of these. Preparedness simply makes those moments less stressful.

A useful reframe:

“This isn’t about expecting something bad to happen. It’s about making everyday disruptions easier to manage.”

Why Arguing Never Works

When someone says, “We don’t need this,” facts and statistics usually make things worse.

Instead:

• Acknowledge their view: “I get why you feel that way.”

• Share your reason: “This helps me feel calmer.”

• Keep it personal: “I want us to be on the same page.”

Preparedness sticks when people feel respected, not pressured.

“The real risk isn’t being unprepared — it’s believing you’ll have time to think later.”

You Don’t Need Everyone’s Buy-In to Start

In most families, one person cares more about preparedness than the rest. That’s normal.

You can:

• Start small

• Make quiet decisions

• Share information gradually

Preparedness doesn’t require enthusiasm — just clarity.

The Real Risk Isn’t Being Unprepared

It’s believing you’ll have time to think later. Emergencies don’t announce themselves. Prepared families aren’t fearless - they’re simply ready.

Stay Safe!

Jackie Kloosterboer

About Jackie

Jackie Kloosterboer is a disaster preparedness specialist with over 30 years of experience helping families, communities, and organizations get ready for the unexpected. As a sought-after speaker, trainer, and course creator, she is passionate about giving families the tools they need to protect their loved ones—without overwhelm. Jackie is the creator of Mom’s Ultimate Disaster Plan and PrepBuddy, her AI-powered assistant designed to make preparedness simple, practical, and doable.