Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation Actions before and after Two Earthquakes

This study examines the current state of preparedness among Los Angeles County and San Francisco Bay Area residents, determines the extent to which levels of preparedness have changed since the Sylmar earthquake in 1971, identifies the circumstances under which people have prepared, and assesses the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environment and behavior 1995-11, Vol.27 (6), p.744-770
Main Authors: Russell, Lisa A., Goltz, James D., Bourque, Linda B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitudes
California
Comparison
Disaster Preparedness
Disasters
Earthquakes
Education
Hazard mitigation
Hazards
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Natural Disasters
Ownership
Perception
Preparation
Proximity
San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco, California
Seismic phenomena
Survival
U.S.A
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Summary:This study examines the current state of preparedness among Los Angeles County and San Francisco Bay Area residents, determines the extent to which levels of preparedness have changed since the Sylmar earthquake in 1971, identifies the circumstances under which people have prepared, and assesses the extent to which respondents' overall perceptions of preparedness match their reports of preparedness activities. Since the 1970s, residents of the two areas have increased their level of survival activities substantially, but progress in home-hazard mitigation and family earthquake planning has generally remained constant and low. Pre-earthquake preparedness was predicted by home ownership, income, education, marital status, number of children at home, number of years in the neighborhood, and number of earthquakes experienced. In contrast, post-earthquake preparedness was predicted by proximity to the earthquake epicenter, earthquake-related experiences, fear, and levels of pre-earthquake preparedness.
ISSN:0013-9165
1552-390X
DOI:10.1177/0013916595276002