“Normalcy Bias” is a cognitive distortion that causes people to underestimate the likelihood and impact of disasters, assuming that life will continue as normal despite warning signs. It results in dangerous inaction or denial, with about 80% of people displaying this bias during crises. Overcoming it requires acknowledging potential risks, planning for worst-case scenarios, and overcoming the “it won’t happen to me” mindset.
A simple question that many of us overlook until the lights go out: Can you reach someone and get a response when normal communication systems are unavailable?
Picture Daniel standing in his driveway after a spring thunderstorm. The house is dark, the router is dead and his phone is stuck on “searching for signal.” He doesn’t need a full weather report—he needs one answer: Who can he reach and who can reach him back? That answer is the essence of this week’s Word of the Week— “Signal”.
Signal ≠ Device
Most families assume “we all have phones, so we’re covered.” That’s an assumption, not a plan. A single localized outage, a jammed network, a drained battery, or a lone family member stuck in a coverage dead zone is enough to break the chain of information. When uncertainty creeps in, stress follows and bad decisions are born.
ReadyCorps emergency communication principles teach you to close that gap before it widens. The plan is simple:
1. Designate a contact outside your immediate area (a cousin, neighbor, or friend who lives in a different zip code).
2. Pick a primary method — text, call, satellite messenger, even a pre‑written note tucked in a car dashboard.
3. Identify at least one backup — a walkie‑talkie pair, a community radio frequency, or a simple “check‑in” email that can be printed and mailed.
4. Test both directions. Send a message, get a reply and confirm both sides know what success looks like.
A message sent is not the same as communication established. The skill outcome this week isn’t “try to call.” It’s “two‑way communication confirmed with my designated contact.” That standard creates clarity, calm and a reliable decision‑making anchor when everything else feels chaotic.
Your Quick Challenge
Before the day ends, pick one person who lives outside your immediate neighborhood. Use your primary method to check in, then verify a backup works too. Document the result—did you get a reply? Did the backup buzz through? Adjust whatever didn’t work. This 10‑minute exercise can be the difference between staying put safely or wandering into danger.
Did you know that ReadyCorps members have access to a series of five courses that teach you how to communicate off grid? Become a member and Check them out here.
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