Final answer:
Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Preparedness at Columbia University, believed that most Americans are inadequately prepared for serious disasters, referencing lack of emergency planning, inadequate response to natural disasters, and poor pandemic preparedness and response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Preparedness at Columbia University, described most people in the US as inadequately prepared for any serious disaster. Despite the widespread attention that events like terrorist attacks receive in the media, which may lead to an overestimation of their likelihood, actual preparedness for more probable disasters like natural catastrophes and pandemics seems to be lacking. Evidence of this includes inadequate emergency supplies in earthquake-prone areas like California, the mishandling of major natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and shortcomings in public health infrastructure revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
The National Security Council, as well as other public health officials, have long warned of the potential for a serious global pandemic, but despite exercises and plans that have been drawn up, such as the Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents, these were not actioned effectively by subsequent administrations. This left the nation ill-prepared when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, demonstrating the consequences of not heeding expert warnings on disaster preparedness and response. The importance of strong and proactive leadership in these areas cannot be overstated, as it can make the difference between a well-managed crisis and a calamity with significant human and economic costs.