Understanding Community Preparedness and Emergency Supply Kit Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among the U.S. Population

Abstract

Introduction:

During disasters households may experience lost communication and roads may become impassable; thus a common recommendation is to prepare an emergency supply kit that can be used to shelter-in-place during evacuation. The decision to prepare for disasters becomes more challenging during pandemics because individuals may be hesitant to evacuate to shelters or may be unsure of items to include in emergency supply kits. Because of this, many preparedness estimates before 2020 may no longer reflect current levels of preparedness. The aim of this research was to provide information on what actions people take to prepare for disasters, determine whether households have supply kits, and help guide next steps to better prepare for and respond to disasters during a pandemic.

Method:

We conducted descriptive statistics, chi-square analyses, and backward-step regressions on 10 questions collected through Porter Novelli’s ConsumerStyles surveys in Fall 2020 (n=3,625), Spring 2021 (n=6,455), and Fall 2021 (n=3,553) to examine factors that contribute to overall household preparedness levels and supply kit ownership.

Results:

Being married, having children in the home, and having a household income of $150,000 or more are all associated with increased preparedness levels. Persons living in mobile homes, recreational vehicles (RVs), boats, or vans are half as likely to have preparedness plans compared to those living in single family homes. While there was a significant association between level of preparedness and supply kit ownership, overall kit ownership is also lacking. While most respondents believed a kit would help their chance of survival, only a third had one. Age, sex, education level, and region of the country were significant predictors of kit ownership.

Conclusion:

This study helped close existing knowledge gaps surrounding preparedness and emergency supply kits to guide public health research and prevention strategies, including messaging, to help reduce adverse health impacts during multiple emergencies.