Emergency Preparedness (EP) for natural disasters or disease outbreaks has been identified as a national public health priority, yet households in the United States are consistently found to be unprepared. Little is known regarding EP behaviors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among households with young children.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of caregivers of children (age 0-12 years) living in Honolulu, Hawaii in March, 2023. We examined associations with having an 1) EP kit (supplies for use during emergencies) and 2) EP Plan (what to do, where to go, how to communicate during emergencies) with demographics/household characteristics and theoretical constructs of the Health Belief Model. A multivariable regression model was used to obtain odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Participants (N=278) were mainly female (84%), college-educated (68%) and were similar in diverse racial/ethnic composure (White, 13.3%) to the overall Honolulu County. Logistic regression determined participants with lower perceived susceptibility to disasters, greater time barriers, and lower self-efficacy, were less likely to have an EP Kit. Among participants without an EP Kit, a website able to create personalized instructions for household EP would be useful. Participants in rural areas, and with lower self-efficacy, were less likely to have an EP Plan.

Conclusions

Future interventions should focus on evidence-based strategies that improve self-efficacy associated with developing EP kits and plans. A significant way that people felt would help them most was a website or app.