Abstract
The Caribbean watershed of Costa Rica was struck by a major earthquake (Ms= 7.5) on April 22, 1991. The local civil protection authorities were caught into a major natural disaster without an established adequate emergency management master-plan. Appropriate planning and infomation systems were also practically nonexistent. This lack of emergency management policies generated duplicity, disorder, friction and confusion between the Government, civil protection authorities (Commisión Nacional de Emergencia) and other public and private organizations. There was an inefficient flow of information along with inadequate timing, inaccurate and uncomplete contents, discontrol and coordination problems. Emergency management tasks were jammed with a decreased rehabilitation and reconstruction effectiveness.
This event, as well as other recent natural disasters, triggered a nationwide development of local and municipal emergency committees, preparedness campaigns through mass media and educational emergency programs. This initiative has already brought some positive results, although lack support and long term momentum. On the other hand, the population shows passive and fatalist attitudes obstructing preventive behaviors, mass media, although conveying preventive campaigns, cover events with sensationalism, increasing these negative attitudes and response from the population.