ALEXANDRIA, September 20 — United Way Worldwide and Verizon released national research on September 16 finding that six in 10 people are concerned a natural disaster could affect their household in the next year, yet only 15% would feel very prepared if one strikes. The survey, announced in Alexandria, Virginia, also found that just 16% of respondents have created and tested a household emergency plan. Cost is the leading barrier to readiness, with nearly half of respondents — 45% — naming it as the number one obstacle.
Another 28% said they don’t know where to begin, and 25% cited lack of time.
Experience sharpens the lesson
For people who have already lived through a natural disaster, the survey data shows a different level of resolve. More than two-thirds — 68% — say they wish they had done something differently to prepare. And 87% say the experience made them more serious about preparing for the next one.
Rosie Allen-Herring, Interim President & CEO of United Way Worldwide, said in a statement that for households already struggling to cover basic needs, preparing for a disaster can feel like one more cost they can’t afford. She said everyone deserves the peace of mind that comes from being prepared.
Allen-Herring said United Way Worldwide and Verizon have partnered to help people take practical, low- and no-cost steps to get ready before disaster strikes. She said preparedness should be within reach for all, with simple planning strengthened by community connections helping people feel more confident and prepared.
Local action, global reach
The findings are tied to United We Prepare, a national disaster preparedness initiative led by United Way. The initiative works on community resiliency including local resources, 211, disaster relief and long-term recovery. As an example of that work, Valley of the Sun United Way in Phoenix assembled and distributed more than 8,400 heat relief kits this summer as part of United We Prepare.
United Way describes its broader mission as helping neighbors strengthen their resilience by advancing health, youth opportunities and financial security. Its community resiliency efforts span local resources, disaster relief and long-term recovery across the United States and Canada and globally in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The survey results underscore a gap between widespread worry about disasters and the practical steps — emergency plans, tested supplies and personal networks — that can reduce harm to households and communities. What to watch next is whether the preparedness push translates into action. The data suggests the barrier is not awareness but cost and know-how, and United Way’s stated approach is to close that gap with low- and no-cost steps rather than expensive kits alone.
