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JDR Vol.3 No.2 pp. 143-149
(2008)
doi: 10.20965/jdr.2008.p0143

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Factors Associated with Hurricane Preparedness: Results of a Pre-Hurricane Assessment

Jennifer Horney*1, Cynthia Snider*2, Sandra Malone*3,
Laura Gammons*3, and Steve Ramsey*4

*1 North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Campus Box #8165, 400 Roberson Street Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

*2 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health Campus Box #7435 Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

*3 Carteret County Health Department 3820 Bridges Street, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA

*4 Public Health Regional Surveillance Team 5, 1203 Maple Street, Greensboro, NC 27405, USA

Received:
October 17, 2007
Accepted:
November 19, 2007
Published:
April 1, 2008
Creative Commons License
Keywords:
hurricanes, disaster preparedness, evacuation
Abstract
Previous studies of hurricane preparedness have generally used indirect measures to ascertain household preparedness, including time intervals between preparation and hurricane landfall and past evacuation. This study sought to directly measure hurricane preparedness by asking residents of a high-risk coastal North Carolina county to report whether their household had an evacuation plan and a disaster supply kit with at least 3 days of food and water for each family member and pet as recommended by the American Red Cross. The survey was conducted six weeks prior to the start of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. Past hurricane experience increased the likelihood of a household having a disaster supply kit. However, living in multi-unit housing or a mobile home significantly decreased the likelihood of having a disaster supply kit. Past hurricane experience, past evacuation experience and anticipated evacuation under a mandatory evacuation order were important factors related to a household having an evacuation plan. Residence in a designated flood zone, demographic characteristics of the household, pet ownership, and perceived risk were not significantly related to preparedness. Public health and emergency management officials should work together to determine effective interventions that can improve personal preparedness based on factors other than personal hurricane experience.
Cite this article as:
J. Horney, C. Snider, S. Malone, L. Gammons, and S. Ramsey, “Factors Associated with Hurricane Preparedness: Results of a Pre-Hurricane Assessment,” J. Disaster Res., Vol.3 No.2, pp. 143-149, 2008.
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References
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