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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Carol Freeman, Corey Mull, and Stephanie Kamin, MPH. ORC Macro, 11785 Beltsville Drive, Suite 300, Calverton, MD 20705, 301-572-0581, carol.s.freeman@orcmacro.com

Since 9/11 and the more recent hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast region, disaster preparedness is at the forefront of the nation's public health priorities. Adopting an all-hazards approach to preparedness, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is examining the socio-behavioral factors affecting people's preparedness behaviors. Two critical constructs identified throughout the literature on protection motivation are risk perception and efficacy (self- and response-). In addition, extrinsic factors, including economic and environmental parameters, also play a role in disaster preparedness. The interplay of these socio-structural and psychological factors requires particular examination in the context of high consequence, low likelihood disasters, such as terrorist attacks and natural disasters, so that government agencies can better facilitate and promote preparedness behaviors and foster a culture of preparedness among U.S. citizens. This presentation uses a behavior change model of disaster preparedness developed for DHS, as well as results from two surveys that contributed to the DHS Citizen Corps initiative. They are the 2003 National Preparedness Household Survey (n=2,002) and the 2005 National Preparedness Household Survey (Post-Katrina, n=1,071). The model and survey results present a profile of individuals that do or do not engage in ongoing preparedness activities. For example, African Americans, women, and people with disabilities or with household members who have disabilities report significantly higher levels of concern about terrorism and natural disasters than other Americans. Yet, there is surprisingly little differentiation in the level of disaster preparedness among these groups as compared to the U.S. population as a whole.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify three categories of "preparedness" individuals
• Describe appropriate social marketing, training, and other interventions to effectively target each type of "preparedness" individual
• Understand question phrasing and methodology considerations necessary when conducting preparedness surveys

Keywords: Disasters, Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered