Preparedness Perceptions, Sociodemographic Characteristics, and Level of Household Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2006-2010.
Our objective was to inform state and community interventions focused on increasing household preparedness by examining the association between self-reported possession of household disaster preparedness items (ie, a 3-day supply of food and water, a written evacuation plan, and a working radio and flashlight) and perceptions of household preparedness on a 3-point scale from "well prepared" to "not at all prepared." Data were analyzed from 14 states participating in a large state-based telephone survey: the 2006-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (n = 104,654). Only 25.3% of the population felt they were well prepared, and only 12.3% had all 5 of the recommended items. Fewer than half the households surveyed had 4 or more of the recommended preparedness items (34.1%). Respondents were more likely to report their households were well prepared as the number of preparedness items possessed by their household increased. Risk factors for having no preparedness items were: younger age, being female, lower levels of education, and requesting the survey to be conducted in Spanish. To increase household disaster preparedness, more community-based preparedness education campaigns targeting vulnerable populations, such as those with limited English abilities and lower reading levels, are needed.
Summer D
SD
DeBastiani
Tara W
TW
Strine
Sara J
SJ
Vagi
Daniel J
DJ
Barnett
Emily B
EB
Kahn
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004630:Emergencies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
D014867:Water