LOS ANGELES—Fewer than 60% of U.S. adults reported that their household is prepared for severe storms and power outages, and even fewer adults said their household is prepared for flooding, according to a new data brief released today by Heluna Health.
The data brief, titled “Household Preparedness for Severe Storms, Flooding, and Power Outages Among U.S. Adults,” indicates that younger, lower-income and minority adults may be among the most vulnerable.
Jo Kay Ghosh, PhD, MPH, director of research and evaluation at Heluna Health and the study’s senior author, said the results are concerning.
“We know that better household preparedness can lead to better health and safety outcomes when communities are faced with weather disasters,” Ghosh said.
A 2019 United Nations report noted a “staggering rise” in the number of extreme weather events worldwide over the past 20 years, driven mainly by rising global temperatures and climate change. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that U.S. disasters with damages totaling $1 billion or more accounted for about 75% of all disaster-related costs from 1980-2000. By 2010, that figure had risen to about 80%. NOAA projects that incidents of extreme weather are likely to continue to increase.
The Heluna Health data brief is based on a May 2024 survey of 6,223 U.S. adults nationwide. Ghosh, along with researchers Celeste Beck, PhD, MPH, and Annika Helverson, PhD, MS, designed the survey to assess whether respondents experienced extreme weather events; whether they reported being prepared for these events; and whether they have taken specific actions to prepare, like signing up for weather alerts or creating a household plan.
The survey found that higher percentages of adults identifying as non-Hispanic white said they were prepared for severe storms and power outages when compared with adults identifying as Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American. It found that younger adults (those ages 18-29) reported lower levels of preparedness than all older age groups and that households with higher income levels reported higher rates of preparedness.
“It’s also worrying that fewer than half of respondents said that they have researched recommended actions to take during these severe weather events in the place where they currently live,” Ghosh said.
Only half of respondents said they have taken other measures, such as storing important documents in a waterproof container or making an emergency kit.
Blayne Cutler, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Heluna Health, said the data brief is important in identifying core areas for public health action that can help to save lives.
“As we prepare for the future, it will be critical for the public health community to invest in emergency preparedness education, address financial barriers and work with specific populations to increase community preparedness,” Cutler said.
To view the full data brief, click here.
About Heluna Health
For more than 50 years, Heluna Health has collaborated with community-based organizations, public health agencies, healthcare systems, providers, and policymakers to enhance public health interventions and ensure equitable access to disease prevention, treatment, care and social resources. Heluna Health is at the forefront of efforts to eliminate health disparities among vulnerable populations, dedicating itself to culturally congruent, community-led interventions aimed at systemic change and improved health outcomes across all communities it serves.
