Why do people not prepare for disasters? A national survey from China

Abstract Limited studies investigated the reasons for not adopting specific preparedness actions. This paper addresses this gap using national survey data from China. Seven disaster preparedness actions are used to measure preparedness behaviors, including “preparing food and water at home,” “paying attention to disaster-related information,” “making emergency plans,” “being aware of nearest shelters,” “being aware of building codes,” “participating in exercises or drills,” and “volunteering for emergencies.” The primary reasons for not adopting are “lack of awareness,” “not knowing where to buy or reach resources,” and “perceiving the action as unnecessary.” Other less chosen reasons ranking from high to low are the “financial cost,” “need for special knowledge,” “lack of time,” “need for collaboration with others,” “human energy consuming,” and “not feeling responsible.” Trust in government, relocation due to disasters, living in urban areas, and higher socioeconomic status are positively correlated with higher probabilities of adopting all seven preparedness activities. These findings emphasize the importance of community outreach by emergency management professionals to increase public awareness of disaster preparedness.