In the Listos California Campaign for preparedness, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) set out to reach a million within the state with preparedness training and messages. Those numbers will be released by the governor’s office next week.

But as that campaign was underway, the coronavirus pandemic hit, forcing a reorganization and creating opportunity. In March, the approach to training and preparedness — typically training in small groups such as a social club or a church group — transitioned online.

“Facebook live, Zoom trainings and other really creative methods that people have come out with to really reach the community members,” said Karen Baker, Listos California co-chair.

And with the state mired in a pandemic, the attentiveness of the public is high. “One of the interesting things that we learned from some of the data in research that we’ve done [is] the single thing that will influence people to take steps for preparedness is if they experience a disaster,” Baker said. “We’re finding that both the appetite and interest in getting ready for other disasters has really increased.”

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