the National Disaster Education Coalition
National Disaster Education
The National Disaster Education Coalition
(NDEC) is composed of federal government agencies and national
not-for-profit organizations which work together to develop
consistent educational information for the public about disaster
preparedness, and to disseminate that information throughout
their own organizations, their respective constituencies,
and to the public at large. The goal of the NDEC is to develop,
review, and disseminate information and advice on how the
public should prepare and respond appropriately to natural
and human-caused disasters. NDEC member agencies ensure that
disaster safety messaging is appropriate, accurate, research-based,
and crafted appropriately for the audience by using understandable,
Coalition works as an ad-hoc group through a consensus process.
It is not funded or staffed independently or by any specific
agency. Its work is done by representatives of member organizations
as they are able to commit and dedicate their time. The Coalition
can not "require" any agency to adopt any specific
disaster education position or messages. However, we find
that when we work together, scientific and background information
is understood by all so that we may develop a consensus on
disaster education messages.
Coalition began through an informal bilateral agency collaborative
process in the 1980's. In the early 1990's, several relationships
had been established between two or three agencies on specific
disaster education initiatives. As people working through
these bilateral relationships began talking with one another,
the need for a more formalized, regular meeting process was
identified so that all agencies could benefit from each other's
mutual interests and knowledge. Also, as the United Nations
declared the decade of the 90's as the International Decade
for Natural Disaster Reduction. Organizing the National Disaster
Education Coalition is seen as a result of the efforts of
the Decade process.
Coalition's principle publication is the document titled "Talking
About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages."
This Guide provides standardized safety messages about 13
hazards and general disaster preparedness topics. The messages
have been reviewed and approved by the national organizations
comprising the National Disaster Education Coalition. Following
each message in the Guide are explanations, statistics, or
reasons that reinforce the credibility of the message and
that correct myths and misinformation. The coalition recognizes
that it is important for all agencies to deliver consistent
disaster safety messages. Research has proven that when the
public receives consistent information, they will prepare
and respond appropriately when disaster threatens. The Guide
is available in hard copy form from any local American Red
Cross chapter, or on the web. See references below.
Coalition meets regularly in the Washington, DC, area. Meetings
are hosted at Coalition member meeting rooms in their facilities.
However, because we meet and are based in the Washington,
DC, area, it does not mean that other national organizations
may not participate. We enjoy participation from national
organizations whose offices are headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts,
and Tampa, Florida.
agency or organization that serves a national audience and
shares common goals of consistent disaster education may attend
the meetings and receive meeting reminders and meeting notes
via e-mail. To sign up to receive this information, or if
you have more questions, send an e-mail to Coalition at firstname.lastname@example.org.