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

Limited studies have examined why people do not adopt specific disaster preparedness actions. Using a national survey in China, this study measures seven preparedness behaviors: preparing food and water, paying attention to disaster information, making emergency plans, knowing nearest shelters, knowing building codes, participating in exercises or drills, and volunteering. The primary reasons for non-adoption are lack of awareness, not knowing where to obtain resources or information, and perceiving the action as unnecessary, with lesser reasons including financial cost, need for special knowledge, lack of time, need for collaboration, high effort, and not feeling responsible. Trust in government, prior disaster-related relocation, urban residence, and higher socioeconomic status are positively associated with adopting all seven behaviors. Findings underscore the need for community outreach and public education to increase awareness and access to preparedness resources.

Ziqiang Han, Guochun Wu