Household disaster preparedness: Impact of awareness on actual preparedness

Direct assistance to families during disaster recovery may be delayed depending on disaster severity.  Thus, personal preparedness campaigns encourage households to be able to survive for 3-5 days.  While messaging may lead to increased awareness, little is known as to whether this translates to actual household preparedness.

This study examines the impact of disaster awareness on preparedness utilizing baseline data from Ready CDC, a pilot designed to encourage the CDC workforce to become prepared.  Participants’ disaster awareness was categorized as ‘high’ if they reported the following awareness: need for an emergency kit, need for a written plan, disasters likely to occur in county, county warning sirens, and where to sign-up for free CPR.  Participants’ household preparedness level was categorized as ‘high’ if they reported a reserve of at least 9 of 17 preparedness elements (16 kit items and an emergency plan).   Chi-square tests were used to compare preparedness behaviors by awareness levels.  Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with household preparedness.

During September, 2013-September, 2014, 231 conveniently sampled staff provided baseline data.  Preparedness behaviors differed significantly between those with low (n=154) and high (n=77) awareness:  21% vs 53% had a kit, 7% vs 13% had a plan, and 40% vs 60% received emergency alerts.  Awareness measures were associated with high household preparedness, including need for a disaster plan (OR=3.01, CI: 1.52-6.20), disasters likely to occur in county (OR=2.37, CI: 1.02-5.48] and meaning of warning sirens (OR=2.07, CI: 1.19-3.58).  Additionally, one of three social connectedness measures (belief neighbors are often or always willing to help with routine activities) was associated with high preparedness.  However, disaster beliefs and experience were not associated with preparedness. 

Our study indicates that awareness was associated with household preparedness.  However, there are other influences.  These findings have implications in developing messaging around emergency preparedness.