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Preparedness for natural disasters among older US adults: A nationwide survey

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  • Al-Rousan, T.M.
  • Rubenstein, L.M.
  • Wallace, R.B.

Abstract

Objectives. We sought to determine natural disaster preparedness levels among older US adults and assess factors that may adversely affect health and safety during such incidents. Methods. We sampled adults aged 50 years or older (n = 1304) from the 2010 interview survey of the Health and Retirement Study. The survey gathered data on general demographic characteristics, disability status or functional limitations, and preparedness-related factors and behaviors. We calculated a general disaster preparedness score by using individual indicators to assess overall preparedness. Results. Participant (n = 1304) mean age was 70 years (SD = 9.3). Only 34.3% reported participating in an educational program or reading materials about disaster preparation. Nearly 15% reported using electrically powered medical devices that might be at risk in a power outage. The preparedness score indicated that increasing age, physical disability, and lower educational attainment and income were independently and significantly associated with worse overall preparedness. Conclusions. Despite both greater vulnerability to disasters and continuous growth in the number of older US adults, many of the substantial problems discovered are remediable and require attention in the clinical, public health, and emergency management sectors of society.

Suggested Citation

  • Al-Rousan, T.M. & Rubenstein, L.M. & Wallace, R.B., 2014. "Preparedness for natural disasters among older US adults: A nationwide survey," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(3), pages 506-511.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301559_5
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301559
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    Cited by:

    1. Jim McLennan & Danielle Every & Amy Reynolds, 2021. "Disability and natural hazard emergency preparedness in an Australian sample," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 107(2), pages 1489-1499, June.
    2. Roman Hoffmann & Daniela Blecha, 2020. "Education and Disaster Vulnerability in Southeast Asia: Evidence and Policy Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Hoffmann, Roman & Muttarak, Raya, 2017. "Learn from the Past, Prepare for the Future: Impacts of Education and Experience on Disaster Preparedness in the Philippines and Thailand," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 32-51.
    4. Zhen Cong & Zhirui Chen, 2022. "How are Asian-Americans different from other races in disaster preparedness in the context of caregiving responsibilities and preparation information access?," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(3), pages 2217-2236, July.
    5. Kuo-yi Jade Chang & Michelle Villeneuve & Tonia Crawford & Ivy Yen & Dale Dominey-Howes & Gwynnyth Llewellyn, 2023. "Disaster Preparedness, Capabilities, and Support Needs: The Lived Experience Perspectives of People with Disability," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Nicolás C. Bronfman & Paula B. Repetto & Nikole Guerrero & Javiera V. Castañeda & Pamela C. Cisternas, 2021. "Temporal evolution in social vulnerability to natural hazards in Chile," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 107(2), pages 1757-1784, June.
    7. Omolola E. Adepoju & Luz Herrera & Minji Chae & Daikwon Han, 2022. "Optimizing Disaster Preparedness Planning for Minority Older Adults: One Size Does Not Fit All," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Md. Khalid Hasan & Masuma Moriom & Shariaj Ibna Mizan Shuprio & Tahmina Bintay Younos & Md. Arif Chowdhury, 2022. "Exploring disaster preparedness of students at university in Bangladesh," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 111(1), pages 817-849, March.
    9. Anamaria Bukvic & Julia Gohlke & Aishwarya Borate & Jessica Suggs, 2018. "Aging in Flood-Prone Coastal Areas: Discerning the Health and Well-Being Risk for Older Residents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-25, December.
    10. Alex de Sherbinin & Guillem Bardy, 2015. "Social vulnerability to floods in two coastal megacities: New York City and Mumbai," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 13(1), pages 131-165.
    11. Javiera V. Castañeda & Nicolás C. Bronfman & Pamela C. Cisternas & Paula B. Repetto, 2020. "Understanding the culture of natural disaster preparedness: exploring the effect of experience and sociodemographic predictors," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 103(2), pages 1881-1904, September.
    12. Rachel M. Adams & David P. Eisenman & Deborah Glik, 2019. "Community Advantage and Individual Self-Efficacy Promote Disaster Preparedness: A Multilevel Model among Persons with Disabilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-18, August.
    13. Lesley Gray, 2017. "Social Determinants of Health, Disaster Vulnerability, Severe and Morbid Obesity in Adults: Triple Jeopardy?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-10, November.

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