American Fears

Fear of Disaster, Little Action to Prepare Researchers at Chapman University asked a random sample of Americans about fears of natural disasters. They then asked whether they had taken recommended preparedness steps such as assembling an emergency kit. Despite widespread fear, the vast majority of those surveyed do not have emergency September is National Preparedness Month (www. ready.gov/september) with the theme, "Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare" Our research indicates that Americans are aware, but better communication strategies are needed to encourage the 71.7% who are unprepared for catastrophe. We are conducting follow-up studies to examine why so many Americans remain unprepared despite lessons learned from recent natural disasters. We are also taking a closer look at preppers-a community that takes preparedness to the extreme. -even in regions hardest hit by natural disasters. kits- Are you prepared? #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon 1. Natural Disasters Tornado, Hurricane, Earthquakes, floods, pandemic or epidemic, power outage not due to attack, volcano, asteroids America's Most Feared Natural Disasters: 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 34% 20% 39.4% 32% 36% 16% 34% FLOOD VOLCANO TORNADO POWER EARTHQUAKE ASTEROID PANDEMIC HURRICANE OUTAGE EPIDEMIC * Percent of Americans that indicate they are "worried" or "very worried" about each item. Each respondent was asked their level of worry that the stated events will occur "in the next 25 years." 2. Disaster Fears by Region* West, Midwest, South, Northeast America's Most Feared Natural Disasters by Region: 50 50 50 50 50% 44% 40 42% 40 40 39% 38% 37% 34.5% 37% 36% 35%A 35% 36% 33% 33% 34% 30 30 32% 30- 31% 30 30% 30.9% 29% 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 WEST 35% MIDWEST 19% SOUTH 26.5% NORTHEAST 22% with Emergency Supply Kit at home with Emergency Supply Kit at home with Emergency Supply Kit at home with Emergency Supply Kit at hor * Percent of Americans that indicate they are "worried" or "very worried" about each item. Each respondent was asked their level of worry that the stated events will occur "in the next 25 years." 3. Disaster Preparedness: Get a Kit* Supplies kit would include food, water, clothing, and medical supplies Percentage of America's Homes with Disaster Preparedness Kits by region: 22% NORTHEAST 35% WEST 19% MIDWEST 26.5% SOUTH 25.3% National PREPARED Average UNPREPARED 71.7% * Percent of Americans that indicate they have an emergency supply kit at home. DATA SOURCE: Chapman University Survey of American Fears. DATA VISUALIZATION AND DESIGN: Chapman University Ideation Lab S00013 TORNADO/HURRICAN POWER OUTAGE EARTHQUAKES PANDEMIC/EPIDEMIC Sg001! TORNADO/HURRICAN PANDEMIC/EPIDEMIC TORNADO/HURRICAN POWER OU TAGE EARTHQUAKE FLOODS TORNADO/HURRICAN POWER OUTAGE EARTHQUAKES PANDEMIC/EPIDEMIC