Table 2.
Weighted preparedness levels and disaster experience, United States, 2020–2021
| Fall 2020 (N = 3625) | Spring 2021 (N = 6455) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Percent | Frequency | Percent | |
| Experienced previous disaster | ||||
| Yes | 2491.5 | 69.0 | 4089.5 | 63.5 |
| No | 1119.4 | 31.0 | 2346.1 | 36.5 |
| Type of disaster experienced | ||||
| Severe weather with power outages | 1988.4 | 55.1 | 3235.2 | 50.3 |
| Tropical storm or hurricane | 1054.1 | 29.2 | 1504.1 | 23.4 |
| Tornado | 567.4 | 15.7 | 888.6 | 13.8 |
| Earthquake, mudslide, or landslide | 559.1 | 15.5 | 913.9 | 14.2 |
| Flood | 513.9 | 14.2 | 785.8 | 12.2 |
| Wildfire | 205.1 | 5.7 | 347.5 | 5.4 |
| Employment in disaster response/recovery | ||||
| Yes | 593.3 | 16.4 | 1220.5 | 19.0 |
| No | 3018.6 | 83.6 | 5212.0 | 81.0 |
| Type of response/recovery employment | ||||
| Volunteered for disaster response | 212.2 | 5.9 | 481.9 | 7.5 |
| Work in disaster response or recovery | 160.0 | 4.4 | 293.2 | 4.6 |
| Taken CERT training | 159.9 | 4.4 | 353.0 | 5.5 |
| Work in emergency management | 110.1 | 3.1 | 203.7 | 3.2 |
| Volunteer with American Red Cross | 102.3 | 2.8 | 180.0 | 2.8 |
| Other | 143.1 | 4.0 | 285.8 | 4.4 |
| Has the following preparedness plans/items | ||||
| Stored copies of important documents | 1247.6 | 34.6 | 2080.5 | 32.4 |
| Easy to get to ESK | 989.6 | 27.4 | 1744.3 | 27.2 |
| Designated meeting place outside the home | 672.2 | 18.6 | 1237.7 | 19.3 |
| Multiple evacuation routes away from home | 640.1 | 17.7 | 816.7 | 12.7 |
| Emergency communication plan | 485.0 | 13.4 | 987.0 | 15.4 |
| Meeting place outside the neighborhood | 342.5 | 9.5 | 463.4 | 7.2 |
| Preparedness level | ||||
| No plans | 1845.2 | 51.1 | 3366.2 | 52.4 |
| Some plans | 1659.0 | 46.0 | 2898.5 | 45.2 |
| All 5 FEMA-recommended plans | 106.3 | 2.9 | 155.0 | 2.4 |
| ESK | ||||
| Has an ESK | 1160.1 | 33.8 | 2201.3 | 36.3 |
| Does not have an ESK | 2276.0 | 66.2 | 3864.1 | 63.7 |
| ESK items | ||||
| Flashlight with batteries | 1106.3 | 95.4 | 2053.9 | 93.6 |
| Medical supplies | 981.4 | 84.6 | 1872.9 | 85.4 |
| Water | 926.6 | 79.9 | 1803.9 | 82.2 |
| Food | 803.2 | 69.2 | 1503.6 | 68.5 |
| Radio | 709.4 | 61.2 | 1291.8 | 58.9 |
| Household cleaning supplies | 378.1 | 32.6 | 643.6 | 29.3 |
| Other | 84.3 | 7.3 | 210.3 | 9.6 |