The common sense gap: Why we do not prepare for earthquakes

Steven Eberlein’s experience of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami left him grappling with this question: can a society adapt to a risk that it has never experienced before? Steve’s mission is to spark a preparedness movement in the Pacific Northwest that will save lives in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone 9M earthquake. In this Talk, Steve shows that a society’s willingness to change is thwarted by an invisible force called the “common-sense gap” which, once identified and challenged, can quickly morph into a life-saving cultural movement.Steven Eberlein was chosen from 254 applicants from the first ever TEDxPortland Ideas Booth. He had one week to prepare his Talk before 3000+ people. His idea explores the “common sense gap” as it relates to earthquakes challenging all of us to be a part of the preparedness movement.