title: Effects of support on evacuation preparedness of persons with disabilities.
abstract: Many persons with a disability are not prepared to evacuate in disasters. Subjects (N = 710) from 7 U.S. states responded to a survey measuring level of social support in a crisis, number of organizational memberships, frequency of personal assistance services, and evacuation preparedness. A hierarchical regression, controlling for degree of limitation from disability, shows that informal social support (β = .345), voluntary memberships (β = .106), and personal assistance frequency (β = .113) are statistically significant (p < .01) predictors of preparedness (R = .383, R(2) = .148). Interventions that increase the levels of these supports increase disaster preparedness.
authors: a School of Social Work , Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University , Morgantown , West Virginia , USA.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Zakour
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014838:Volunteers
keywords: Centers for Independent Living; advocacy; disability; disasters; empowerment approach; evacuation preparedness; social networks; social support; volunteerism