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

This paper addresses the gap in understanding disaster preparedness by analyzing national survey data from China. It evaluates seven preparedness actions: preparing food and water at home, paying attention to disaster-related information, making emergency plans, knowing the nearest shelters, understanding building codes, participating in drills, and volunteering for emergencies.

The main reasons for not adopting these actions are lack of awareness, not knowing where to access resources, and believing the actions are unnecessary. Less common reasons include financial cost, need for specialized knowledge, lack of time, need for collaboration, physical effort, and feeling it’s not one’s responsibility. Higher trust in government, past disaster-related relocation, urban residency, and higher socioeconomic status are linked to greater preparedness. The study highlights the need for targeted community outreach to raise public awareness and improve disaster readiness.