Using Behavioral Insights to Improve Disaster Preparedness, Early Warning and Response Mechanisms in Haiti
- EWS messages often do not reach the population due to limited resources and funding.
- People do not always understand EWS messages, which are not adapted to local literacy levels.
- People struggle to internalize risk, underestimating the probability of negative events or holding fatalistic beliefs.
- Many people lack access to resources and shelters needed to evacuate.
- Unsatisfactory experiences in emergency evacuation shelters deter people from evacuating.
This report investigates the structural and behavioral obstacles hindering effective disaster preparedness and response in Haiti, with a focus on evacuation behaviors. It employs a behavioral science approach to pinpoint key areas for enhancing early warning systems (EWS) and promoting timely evacuation to safe locations before hurricanes. The research combines desk reviews, key informant interviews, and qualitative fieldwork in Nippes and Sud departments to understand the decisions and actions influencing individuals. The study identifies barriers related to warning dissemination, preparedness capacity, risk knowledge, access to resources, and preferences against evacuation, offering potential solutions ranging from simplified communication to community-based shelter management.
How to cite
World Bank, 2019, Using Behavioral Insights to Improve Disaster Preparedness, Early Warning and Response Mechanisms in Haiti, accessed via HaitiDocs, https://www.haitidocs.org/doc/wb-2019-using-behavioral-insights-improve