Post by violet on Nov 24, 2008 12:38:17 GMT 10
This book, by Amanda Ripley, arrived late last week. She's a journalist who became interested in disaster, and who survives and why, after interviewing people who lived through 9/11.
So far the book is very interesting. It includes factual accounts of people who were involved in disasters, as well as the psychology behind the way people behave in an emergency situation. They psychology aspect is very easily understood.
One case cited was that of an elderly fellow who decided to stay put during Hurricane Katrina, despite the efforts of his adult children to convince him to leave. He based his decision to stay on the fact that he'd survived two other hurricanes, but neglected to factor in that the surrounding area had changed since the previous disaster, and thus the landscape had altered sufficiently that the whole area was more vulnerable to flooding.
As it turned out, his house did survive, with 5 feet of water in it, but sadly he died of a heart attack. He would have been stuck in there for days and presumably it was too much for his body.
It does make very interesting reading and gives a good insight into why we behave the way we do.
So far the book is very interesting. It includes factual accounts of people who were involved in disasters, as well as the psychology behind the way people behave in an emergency situation. They psychology aspect is very easily understood.
One case cited was that of an elderly fellow who decided to stay put during Hurricane Katrina, despite the efforts of his adult children to convince him to leave. He based his decision to stay on the fact that he'd survived two other hurricanes, but neglected to factor in that the surrounding area had changed since the previous disaster, and thus the landscape had altered sufficiently that the whole area was more vulnerable to flooding.
As it turned out, his house did survive, with 5 feet of water in it, but sadly he died of a heart attack. He would have been stuck in there for days and presumably it was too much for his body.
It does make very interesting reading and gives a good insight into why we behave the way we do.
