Study Finds Majority of Americans Unprepared for Disasters

submitted by Mike Kraft

Homeland Security News Wire - February 29, 2012

According to the latest survey by the Persuadable Research Corporation, half of the poll’s respondents believe they are unprepared for a disaster.

When asked in further detail why not, 38 percent said preparing for a disaster never crossed their mind, while 48 percent said they lacked the money to prepare and 15 percent said they did not have time. Furthermore 20 percent of those surveyed, said they intended to “just wing it” during a disaster.

On the opposite front, of the minority who are prepared, 82 percent said they had a previous brush with a disaster and are now ready to act in the event of another. In addition, 27 percent of those who were prepared for a disaster said they did it because they needed to care for other family members like children or elderly parents.

Meanwhile respondents were uncertain on whether the government would be able to provide assistance in the event of an emergency. Twenty-eight percent were uncertain about the government’s response, while 30 percent were convinced the government was incapable.

“After seeing the Katrina mess and resulting federal help, if you can call it that, I have little to no faith in the federal government”, one respondent said.

http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/srdisasters20120229-study-finds-majority-of-americans-unprepared-for-disasters