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Majorities Say They Are Prepared for Certain Unexpected Events, but Less Than Half Have Actually Done Certain Preparedness Actions
Among Those with Pets, Just One-third has an Evacuation Plan Prepared with the Pet in Mind
As the 2007 hurricane season opens, memories of the horrible 2005 season may have begun to fade from people's memories, especially as the 2006 season was relatively storm free. But, with one named storm already in the books for this year, are people prepared to face what might be?
Americans say they are prepared to face unexpected events. Nine in ten (91%) say they are prepared to take someone to the hospital closest to their home in an emergency and 84 percent are prepared to put out a small cooking fire on the stove. Three-quarters are prepared to live for a few days with the supplies they have on hand if there was a catastrophic disaster and they could not get to the store. Sixty-two percent of U.S. adults are prepared to turn off the electricity, gas and water in their home.
Looking more specifically into one area of preparedness, just over half (58%) say they are prepared for a long-term power outage or a disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake, flood, wild land fire or terrorist attack by having the necessary supplies, including extra food and water for three days. However, the number of those who say they are "very prepared" is just 14 percent compared to the 44 percent who are somewhat prepared.
These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,563 adults surveyed online between April 10 and 16, 2007 by Harris Interactive(R). This survey was conceived and developed by Harris Interactive and was not commissioned by any organization. However, we sought and received valuable input from the American Red Cross on the subject of emergency preparedness.
Actual Preparations Made
The American Red Cross recommends five specific actions to be taken in order to prepare for a disaster, yet less than half of U.S. adults say that they have done any of these. Just under half (48%) have completed first aid or CPR training, while just over one-third (36%) have made a specific evacuation plan for how they would leave their home in the case of an emergency situation. Just over one-quarter (28%) say they have put together a disaster supplies kit with water, food, medicine, and other supplies, while the same number have selected a person who lives outside their geographic region that family members can contact if they become separated after an emergency. One- quarter (24%) have established a specific meeting place to reunite in the event they and their family cannot return home.
Preparedness with Pets
One of the issues for many of those who have had to evacuate from areas is what to do with pets. Since six out of 10 (59%) households have pets, this is an important issue for many. Yet, of those with pets in their household, only one-third (37%) actually have a plan in place for their pet or pets in the case of any emergency or disaster. Knowing that most hotels and shelters will not accept pets, if these people had to evacuate, more than four in five pet owners (84%) say they would do so and bring their pet with them. Just seven percent would evacuate and leave their pet behind while four percent would not comply with the evacuation order and stay at home with their pet.
So what?
While majorities of Americans say they are prepared, this does not seem to be the case. When asked if they had done certain action items, majorities say they have not. One wonders if the answers may have been different had these questions been asked right after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Has the mild 2006 season lulled people into a false sense of complacency?

  TABLE 1
  PREPAREDNESS FOR UNEXPECTED EVENTS
  "We would like you to think about your household's current state of
  preparedness for a variety of unexpected events. Please indicate if you
  think you and the people in your household are personally prepared for
  such an event."

  Base:  All Adults

                                           Prepared       Not         Not
                                                        prepared      sure

                                              %            %           %
  To take someone to the
   hospital closest to your
   home in an emergency                      91            6           4
  To put out a small cooking
   fire on the stove                         84           11           5
  To live for a few days with
   the supplies you have on hand
   in your home if there was a
   catastrophic disaster and it              75           20           6
   was impossible to get to a
   store
  To turn off the electricity,
   gas and water in your home                62           30           8

  Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.


  TABLE 2
  PREPAREDNESS FOR LONG TERM POWER OUTAGE
  "Now, thinking about you and your household, how prepared are you for a
  long-term power outage or a disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake,
  flood, wild land fire or terrorist attack by having the necessary
  supplies, including extra food and water for three days?"

  Base:  All Adults

                                                               Total

                                                                 %
  PREPARED (NET)                                                58
     Very prepared                                              14
     Somewhat prepared                                          44
  NOT PREPARED (NET)                                            40
     Not too prepared                                           27
     Not at all prepared                                        13
  Not sure                                                       2

  Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.


  TABLE 3
  PREPARATIONS MADE FOR AN EMERGENCY
  "Have you done any of the following actions to prepare in the event of an
  emergency of disaster situation?"

  Base:  All Adults

                                                 Have     Have      Not
                                                 done     not       sure
                                                          done

                                                  %        %         %
  Completed first aid or CPR
   training                                      48       49         3
  Made a specific plan for how
   you and your family would
   leave your home if you had to                 36       61         4
   evacuate in case of an
   emergency situation
  Put together a disaster
   supplies kit with water, food,                28       68         4
   medicine and other supplies
  Selected a person who lives
   outside your geographic area
   that all family members know                  28       69         3
   how to contact if they become
   separated during and after an
   emergency
  Established a specific meeting
   place to reunite in the event                 24       73         4
   you and your family cannot
   return home

  Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.


  TABLE 4
  PETS IN HOUSEHOLD
  "Do you have any pets in the household?"

  Base:  All Adults

              Total
               %
  Yes         59
  No          41


  TABLE 5
  EMERGENCY PLANS FOR PETS
  "Do you have a plan in place for your pet or pets in the case of an
  emergency or disaster?"

  Base:  Have pet in household

              Total
                %
  Yes          37
  No           56
  Not sure      7


  TABLE 6
  EVACUATING WITH PET
  "Imagine that residents in your area were ordered to evacuate because of a
  life-threatening disaster. Knowing that most hotels and shelters will not
  accept pets, which action are you most likely to take?"

  Base:  Have pet in household

                                                                   Total
                                                                     %
  Evacuate and bring your pet with you                              84
  Evacuate and leave your pet behind                                 7
  Stay at home with your pet and not comply                          4
   with the evacuation order
  Not sure                                                           6

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
Web site:
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/
http://www.harrispollonline.com/

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