Preparedness in America: Research Insights to Increase Individual, Organizational, and Community Action

As disasters continue to impact our Nation, the role of individuals and the importance of engaging all sectors in reducing the impact of disasters has become increasingly evident. Recognizing the need to involve the Nation more fully, Presidential Policy Directive-8 (PPD-8), issued on March 20, 2011, states that “our national preparedness is the shared responsibility of all levels of government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and individual citizens.” The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is committed to social and physical science as the foundation for increasing individual and community preparedness and has conducted national household surveys to assess the public’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors on preparing for a range of hazards since 2007. Preparedness in America: Research Insights to Increase Individual, Organizational, and Community Action advances our understanding of the complexities of motivating the public to prepare by examining trend data on personal preparedness behaviors and by providing findings on several new areas of analysis: Exploring the relationship between preparedness behaviors and individuals’ beliefs and experiences around disasters; Identifying profiles of the general public to assist practitioners in conducting more targeted and effective engagement, education, and messaging strategies; and Examining the effect of community connections and networks on personal preparedness. FEMA recognizes that widespread cultural change is a long-term process, and while the national statistics on basic preparedness actions have remained largely constant, findings documented in Preparedness in America offer valuable insights for adapting education efforts to increase preparedness. Key findings from the research focus on the public’s behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes related to preparing for a range of hazards.