@article{ref1,
title="Preparedness perceptions, sociodemographic characteristics, and level of household preparedness for public health emergencies: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2006-2010",
journal="Health security",
year="2015",
author="DeBastiani, Summer D. and Strine, Tara W. and Vagi, Sara J. and Barnett, Daniel J. and Kahn, Emily B.",
volume="13",
number="5",
pages="317-326",
abstract="Our objective was to inform state and community interventions focused on increasing household preparedness by examining the association between self-reported possession of household disaster preparedness items (ie, a 3-day supply of food and water, a written evacuation plan, and a working radio and flashlight) and perceptions of household preparedness on a 3-point scale from &quot;well prepared&quot; to &quot;not at all prepared.&quot; Data were analyzed from 14 states participating in a large state-based telephone survey: the 2006-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (n = 104,654). Only 25.3% of the population felt they were well prepared, and only 12.3% had all 5 of the recommended items. Fewer than half the households surveyed had 4 or more of the recommended preparedness items (34.1%). Respondents were more likely to report their households were well prepared as the number of preparedness items possessed by their household increased. Risk factors for having no preparedness items were: younger age, being female, lower levels of education, and requesting the survey to be conducted in Spanish. To increase household disaster preparedness, more community-based preparedness education campaigns targeting vulnerable populations, such as those with limited English abilities and lower reading levels, are needed.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2326-5094",
doi="10.1089/hs.2014.0093",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/hs.2014.0093"
}