Disaster Preparedness Among Older Adults with Disabilities: Findings from 2023 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness

Purpose: As climate-related emergencies and disasters increase in frequency and severity, older adults, particularly those aged 60 and above with disabilities face heightened risks. This study utilizes data from the 2023 National Household Survey (NHS) on Disaster Preparedness to explore differences in disaster preparedness based on:
a) Disability status;
b) Socioeconomic and geographic factors
c) Engagement with community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs).

The conceptual framework is informed by theories of Social Vulnerability, Social Learning and Social Capital.

Methods

Using the 2023 National Household Survey collected by Federal Emergency Management Agency, data were drawn from a nationally representative sample of 7,605 non-institutionalized U.S. adults aged 18 and older with internet access. Analysis for the current study focused on respondents aged 60 and over (n = 2,233), including a subset of individuals with self-identified disabilities (n = 676).

Disability status was determined by responses to the question:
“Do you have a disability or a health condition that might affect your capacity to respond to an emergency situation (e.g., a mobility, hearing, vision, cognitive or intellectual disability, or a physical, mental, or health condition)?”

Preparedness was assessed in two ways:

• Perceived Preparedness was measured by asking respondents their degree of preparedness across eight emergency types (disaster, pandemic, coastal flooding, earthquake, hurricane, radiological emergency, riverine flooding and wildfire)
• Action-Based Preparedness, was defined as completing at least three preparedness actions from a list of twelve.

Other study variables included disadvantaged status (based on the number of people living in the household, the household income , and the state or territory), education, home ownership, geographic location, gender, sexual identity, religious minority, non-English speaking, ethnic minority and engagement with CBOs and FBOs.

Data analysis:

Descriptive (univariate) analyses were conducted to summarize demographic characteristics, and bivariate analyses, including chi-square tests were used to examine associations between preparedness and key variables.

Findings

• There was no statistically significant difference in “perceived preparedness” and “action-based preparedness” between older adults with and without disabilities.
• Among individuals with disabilities, perceived preparedness significantly varied by gender, religious minority status, education level, disadvantaged status, and home ownership.
• Religious minority participants reported higher levels of preparedness, likely due to stronger engagement with FBOs that disseminate disaster information.
• Older adults with disabilities living in communities with Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) also reported greater perceived preparedness.
• Similar patterns emerged in action-based preparedness: those who were homeowners, had higher education, participated in FBOs, received preparedness information from those organizations, or lived in communities with CERTs were significantly more likely to take at least three preparedness actions.

Consistent with Social Vulnerability Theory, preparedness disparities are associated with socioeconomic status. Social Learning Theory helps explain how access to culturally relevant information, especially through trusted sources like faith-based organizations promote behavioral change. Finally, Social Capital Theory underscores the protective role of community connections and localized resources. Based on these preliminary findings, a more complex multivariate analysis model will be developed in future research to further explore the interaction between multiple risk and resilience factors influencing disaster preparedness among older adults with disabilities.