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Trends in Preparedness

Introduction

A vital part of preparedness consists of creating messages that resonate with the audience. We have included a few examples of creative preparedness messaging from federal and state sources.

Additionally, the Citizen Corps surveys provided on this page contain information on the public's thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors related to preparedness and community safety for multiple types of hazards.  The surveys can give insights on how to increase personal preparedness, civic engagement, community resilience, and the effectiveness of preparedness messaging.

We encourage the use of websites that are accessible to people with access and functional needs. For guidance on creating Section 508 compliant online materials refer to the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards. For further information on emergency management and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, please review this webinar from the Citizen Corps Community Preparedness Webinar Series.

Disclaimer
The resources listed here are purely for reference, are from publicly available sources, and intended to provide preparedness guidance, tools, and publications.  FEMA does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on any linked external, third-party website. Nor does FEMA endorse any non-Federal government entity, service, or organization including but not limited to any commercial products.

 

Creative Preparedness Messaging 

Preparedness Messaging from the States and Territories

Emergency Notifications

Citizen Corps Survey Findings

Personal Preparedness In America: Findings From the 2009 Citizen Corps National Survey (Revised Dec 2009)

FEMA's Citizen Corps Surveys offer comprehensive data on the public's thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors related to preparedness and community safety for multiple types of hazards. These findings are particularly relevant as we prepare for a possible pandemic flu outbreak, hurricane season, and other hazards. Results from this study have important implications for the development of more effective communication and outreach strategies to achieve greater levels of preparedness and participation.

CPR Issue 7: Business Continuity and Disaster Preparedness Planning Patterns and Findings from Current Research - Winter 2011 (24-page PDF)

CPR Issue 7 provides a summary of publicly available survey data on disaster preparedness and business continuity planning conducted between September 11, 2001, and November 2009.

CPR Issue 6: Bringing Youth Preparedness Education to the Forefront: A Literature Review and Recommendations - Summer 2010 (23-page PDF)

CPR Issue 6 summarizes research and evaluations in the field of youth disaster preparedness and education. Findings based on this literature review are presented in three principal categories: individual/youth preparedness education, school programs and curricula, and community engagement for youth preparedness. The report then concludes with recommended practices for youth disaster education and research to help achieve greater levels of preparedness activities among children and their families.

CPR Issue 5: Update on Citizen Preparedness Research - Fall 2007 (18-page PDF)

CPR Issue 5 provides an update on citizen disaster preparedness research conducted since spring 2006. Since that time, several key studies have been released that allow us to understand how Americans. perspective disaster preparedness have or have not changed.

CPR Issue 4: Citizen Corps Personal Behavior Change Model for Disaster Preparedness - Fall 2006 (15-page PDF)

CPR Issue 4 introduces a model to describe segments of the population based on their perceptions of threat and efficacy relative to disaster preparedness. For each audience segment the model provides associated areas of focus for outreach and social marketing designed to target specific barriers and motivations. This model can be used to help make audience research and outreach efforts more effective in order to develop a sustained culture of preparedness.

CPR Issue 3: Patterns in Current Research and Future Research Opportunities - Summer 2006 (11-page PDF)

CPR Issue 3 examines patterns in citizen preparedness research to date and identifies opportunities to fill existing gaps to develop more effective citizen preparedness initiatives in the future. Future research should:

CPR Issue 2: A Post-Katrina Assessment - Spring 2006 (14-page PDF)

While there had been significant developments in the realm of preparedness research prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, these tragic events have resulted in an even greater emphasis on preparedness research. The five national surveys identified in CPR Issue 2 can be used to determine how these recent disasters may have impacted Americans’ perspectives and actions toward preparedness.

CPR Issue 1: Methodological Considerations and Key Findings in Preparedness Research - Summer 2005 (19-page PDF)

CPR Issue 1 explains the methodology used to develop the Citizen Preparedness Review database of research surveys and a general review of the research environment, including a typology of the research that has been conducted. This report discusses some of the relevant findings and trends in data and examines why results from similar surveys are often divergent.

Citizen Preparedness Surveys Database

The Citizen Preparedness Surveys Database is a compilation of research conducted since September 11, 2001 on personal and business preparedness. This database is used to assess trends in research and trends in preparedness throughout the nation. If you are aware of relevant survey that is not included in this database, please contact citizencorps@dhs.gov.

Public Readiness Index

The Council for Excellence in Government has created a Public Readiness Index (PRI) to help individuals, families and communities measure their Readiness Quotient (RQ). Find out how other Americans measured up and check your own RQ.

Personal Preparedness Research

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