Tatjana Gazibara1,2, Haomiao Jia3, Erica I Lubetkin1. 1. Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, The City College of New York, New York. 2. Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. 3. Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health and School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The emergency preparedness of residents of North Carolina and Montana were compared. METHODS: General preparedness was evaluated using responses to 4 questions related to a household's 3-day supply of water, 3-day supply of nonperishable food, a working battery-operated radio, and a working battery-operated flashlight. Each positive answer was awarded 1 point to create an emergency preparedness score that ranged from 0 (minimum) to 4 (maximum). Results were assessed statistically. RESULTS: The average emergency preparedness score did not differ between the 2 states (P = .513). One factor influencing higher preparedness in both states was being male. Other influencing factors in North Carolina were older age, being a race/ethnicity other than white, having an annual income of $35 000 or more, having children in the household, better (excellent/very good/good) self-reported health, and not being disabled. In contrast, other factors influencing higher emergency preparedness in Montana were having a college degree and being married or partnered. CONCLUSIONS: A divergence was found in factors influencing the likelihood of being prepared. These factors were likely a result of different sociodemographic and geographic characteristics between the 2 states.
OBJECTIVE: The emergency preparedness of residents of North Carolina and Montana were compared. METHODS: General preparedness was evaluated using responses to 4 questions related to a household's 3-day supply of water, 3-day supply of nonperishable food, a working battery-operated radio, and a working battery-operated flashlight. Each positive answer was awarded 1 point to create an emergency preparedness score that ranged from 0 (minimum) to 4 (maximum). Results were assessed statistically. RESULTS: The average emergency preparedness score did not differ between the 2 states (P = .513). One factor influencing higher preparedness in both states was being male. Other influencing factors in North Carolina were older age, being a race/ethnicity other than white, having an annual income of $35 000 or more, having children in the household, better (excellent/very good/good) self-reported health, and not being disabled. In contrast, other factors influencing higher emergency preparedness in Montana were having a college degree and being married or partnered. CONCLUSIONS: A divergence was found in factors influencing the likelihood of being prepared. These factors were likely a result of different sociodemographic and geographic characteristics between the 2 states.