- Issue Brief
- Technical Notes
- Resources
Background
Severe weather events are those that can cause damage to life and personal property.1 They include localized events such as thunderstorms with high winds or hail, tornadoes, and flash floods, or regional events such as hurricanes and winter storms.1,2 In the U.S., approximately 10,000 severe thunderstorms3 and 1,200 tornadoes4 occur each year, or an average of 27 severe thunderstorms and 3 tornadoes each day across the country. Flash flooding can result from these storms, sometimes developing within minutes.5
Events such as these put people at risk for both injury and death, as well as damage to personal property. Flash flooding is the leading cause of death resulting from thunderstorms and kills about 140 people in the U.S. per year.3 Tornadoes form in severe thunderstorms and cause a nationwide average of 80 deaths and 1,500 injuries per year. That means every month, on average, more than 18 people are killed from these incidents. Populations that are especially vulnerable to experiencing adverse effects of severe storms and flooding include racial minorities, those with low income,6 and elderly populations.7
The incidence and aftermath of severe weather events in the U.S. underscore the necessity of household preparedness for such occurrences. There is a need to understand current levels of preparedness, identify populations who are most vulnerable to severe weather events, and identify barriers to readiness in order to inform preparedness efforts across the country. To achieve these goals, we conducted a national survey of 6,223 U.S. adults in May 2024 to assess household preparedness for emergencies. Our survey focused on preparedness for severe storms, flooding, and extended power outages.
Methods
In May 2024, Heluna Health conducted a representative panel survey of adults living in the United States, including all 50 states and the District of Columbia. After applying data quality screening criteria, a total of 6,223 survey responses were included in the analytic dataset, and post-stratification weights were applied so that sample demographics would match the nationwide distribution. Weights were based on population characteristics collected for age group, sex, race (White, Black/African American, Asian), Hispanic ethnicity, household income, rural zip code status, and U.S. Census geographic region. These population characteristics were drawn from the 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates, except for urban/rural status, which was drawn from the 5-year estimates. For the following races, weighting was based on the proportion found in the survey sample due to very small proportions for each, to avoid creating extreme weights based on a small sample size: American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern or North African.
We constructed 95% confidence intervals using population-weighted estimates, which were used to provide ranges within which we would expect true population estimates to fall, and to identify statistically significant differences in estimates across demographic groups. We also used population-weighted multivariable logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios for preparedness. We controlled for multiple demographic characteristics based on their associations with the exposure and outcome in our models, to control for potential confounding.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the Altarum Institute, which collaborated with Heluna Health on the design of the survey and data collection. We also thank the panel survey participants.
References
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Severe Storms and Extreme Events – Data Table. https://www.climate.gov/maps-data/dataset/severe-storms-and-extreme-events-data-table. Accessed August 7, 2024.
- National Weather Service. Severe Weather Definitions. https://www.weather.gov/bgm/severedefinitions. Accessed August 8, 2024.
- National Weather Service. Thunderstorm Hazards. https://www.weather.gov/key/tstmhazards#. Accessed August 7, 2024.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Severe Storms Laboratory. Severe Weather 101 – Tornadoes.
https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/. Accessed August 7, 2024. - National Weather Service. Severe Weather Awareness Week-Flash Flood Safety. https://www.weather.gov/shv/awarenessweek_severe_flashflood. Accessed August 8, 2024.
- EPA. Climate change and social vulnerability in the United States: A focus on six impacts. EPA 430-R-21-003. 2021;10:1.
- National Center for Healthy Housing. Emergency Preparedness and Response: Hurricanes. At Risk Populations. https://nchh.org/information-and-evidence/learn-about-healthy-housing/emergencies/hurricanes/at-risk-populations/. Accessed August 15, 2024.
In the face of natural disasters and emergencies, it’s crucial to be prepared with the right information and resources. The following list offers a range of preparedness materials, including fact sheets and infographics from trusted organizations like FEMA, the American Public Health Association (APHA), and the Red Cross. These resources cover essential safety tips for storms, floods, and power outages. Whether preparing for hurricanes, winter storms, or tornadoes, each link provides valuable guidance on staying safe, assembling emergency kits, and protecting your family during challenging weather conditions.
Storm Preparedness:
- FEMA Hurricane preparedness fact sheet: https://fema-community-files.s3.amazonaws.com/hazard-information-sheets/Hurricane-English.pdf
- APHA Hurricane preparedness infographic: https://aphagetready.org/sharing/infographics/hurricane-preparedness
- FEMA Winter Storm preparedness fact sheet: https://fema-community-files.s3.amazonaws.com/par-information-sheets/Winter+Storm-English-Hazard+Info+Sheet.pdf
- APHA Winter Storms tips for staying safe infographic: https://aphagetready.org/sharing/infographics/winter-storms
- FEMA Tornado preparedness fact sheet: https://fema-community-files.s3.amazonaws.com/hazard-information-sheets/Tornado-English.pdf
- APHA Summer storms safety infographic: https://aphagetready.org/sharing/infographics/summer-storms
Flood Preparedness:
- FEMA Flood preparedness fact sheet: https://fema-community-files.s3.amazonaws.com/hazard-information-sheets/Flood-English.pdf
- APHA Flood safety infographic: https://aphagetready.org/sharing/infographics/flood-safety
- Red Cross flood safety checklist: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/flood.html
Power Outage Preparedness:
- FEMA Power Outage preparedness fact sheet: https://fema-community-files.s3.amazonaws.com/hazard-information-sheets/Power+Outage-English.pdf
- APHA Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks emergency kit infographic: https://aphagetready.org/sharing/infographics/clocks-stocks
- Red Cross emergency kit supply list: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/survival-kit-supplies.html
