Abstract:
This research examined the factors that influence individuals’ level of disaster preparedness. The focus was on an individual’s level of disaster preparedness and how it is influenced by the individual’s demographic and residential geography. Data was collected through a survey that was handed out by Riverside County Emergency Management Department (EMD) throughout various cities in Riverside County from December 2016 to February 2017. The survey had a total of 349 respondents. Respondents were asked demographic questions that included age, zip code, and level of education. The findings of this study showed that age and education level were not significantly associated to the level of confidence in respondents’ ability to prepare for a disaster (t (334) = -1.436, p > .05). A Pearson correlation was performed and found that respondents’ age was not significantly related to their ability to prepare for a disaster (r (306) = .128, p > .05). Lastly, a Chi-Square Test of Independence was performed to see if an individual’s residential geography was associated with whether or not a person prepared for a disaster. No significant association was found (X2 (1) = .451, p > .05).
