Amidst Active Hurricane Season, Nationwide Survey Finds Public Preparedness for Disasters Needs Improvement

American Red Cross and Council for Excellence in Government survey finds Businesses Play Important Role in Preparedness

WASHINGTON, Friday, September 19, 2008 — As the American Red Cross continues to provide services to tens of thousands of people displaced by recent hurricanes, a survey conducted by the Red Cross and the Council for Excellence in Government found the Nation needs to get better prepared. The Readiness Quotient survey conducted for National Preparedness Month found that on a scale of 1 to 10, the nation’s collective level of preparedness, or Readiness Quotient (RQ), decreased from 4.14 in September 2007 to 3.57.

“The recent hurricanes demonstrate the need for all Americans to prepare for emergencies and disasters,” said Gail McGovern, American Red Cross President and CEO. “The American Red Cross wants to help individuals and families get better prepared. During National Preparedness Month, we encourage everyone to take three simple steps to Be Red Cross Ready: Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Be Informed.”

Businesses can play an important role in public preparedness. The survey shows that employees are better prepared if their employer has a plan and has practiced that plan. Respondents whose employer had a plan had an average RQ score of 4.0 while those who either didn’t know if their employer had a plan, or whose employer didn’t have a plan, had an average RQ score of 2.7. Seventy-three percent (73%) of employees report their employer has an emergency plan.  Of these, 65% practiced the plan in the last 12 months.

The survey also shows schools and daycare centers play a strong role in public readiness, and parents are better prepared if their children’s schools or daycare centers have a plan and practice it.  

The survey also found that other areas need improvement:

• Only 36% of respondents have a disaster supplies kit in a designated place
• Only 32% have made a communication plan to keep in touch with loved ones in case of emergencies
• Only 27% have set a meeting place for family members in case they get separated by a disaster
• Only 48% know their local government has an emergency or disaster plan

 “Although the nation’s overall Readiness Quotient has declined since last year, the good news is the preparedness efforts of employers and schools are paying off, not only in those locations but also in preparedness at home. Workplaces and schools are key conduits for delivering the message for individuals and families to take action and be prepared,” said Patricia McGinnis, President and CEO of the Council for Excellence in Government.  “But this year’s survey results show there are still preparedness gaps we must address. We strongly urge businesses, schools and government leaders to take action by administering the Readiness Quotient test in their communities.”  The RQ is a free, easy-to-use, 10 question survey that allows individuals to assess their preparedness for a disaster or emergency and provides links to information and resources to improve scores. People can test their RQ by visiting http://www.whatsyourRQ.org/, and then learn how to Be Red Cross Ready by visiting www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady.

The national survey also found readiness continues to vary by age, education, income and employment status. Higher income respondents and non-Hispanic whites show the biggest declines in preparedness since 2007, while African Americans are the most prepared.

Regionally, the Northeast region had the lowest RQ score (2.65) while the North Central (3.82) and Southern (3.81) regions have the highest. Western respondents (48%) are most likely to have a designated disaster supplies kit at home.

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to raise public awareness about the importance of preparing for all types of emergencies. The American Red Cross, the Council for Excellence in Government and a coalition of more than 2,700 organizations are working with DHS to increase preparedness nationwide this September. The Red Cross urges people to get involved during National Preparedness Month by getting prepared, contacting their local Red Cross chapter, visiting www.redcross.org to make a personal Pledge to Prepare, and donating blood.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Research findings from a telephone survey of 1,006 U.S. Adults 18 years and older on July 10-13, 2008 conducted by ORC International.  Margin of error is +/- 3.1 %t at the 95% confidence level.  If you report data from the survey, source it as orginating from American Red Cross/the Council for Excellence in Government, 2008. A full data set can be accessed here.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.

About the Council for Excellence in Government
The Council for Excellence in Government is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that works to promote improved government performance, citizen participation in government, and public-private partnerships.  Since 2002 the Council has been a leader and catalyst in examining issues of homeland security and emergency management from the citizens’ perspective by: conducting town hall meetings across the country that engaged people in a dialogue with local and national leaders about homeland security in a post 9/11 world, taken the pulse of the nation with provocative polling on a variety of preparedness issues, and regularly convening a forum for major metropolitan emergency managers. For more information, please visit www.excelgov.org.