In a recent interview on “A Closer Look,” a weekly public affairs show based in Kingsport, Tennessee, Jo Kay Ghosh, PhD, MPH, director of research and evaluation at Heluna Health, spoke to host Lynda Fontaine about findings from the recent data brief, “Household Preparedness for Severe Storms, Flooding, and Power Outages Among U.S. Adults.”
The data brief is based on a May 2024 survey of more than 6,000 adults in the U.S. The Heluna Health research and evaluation team designed the survey to assess whether respondents experienced extreme weather events; whether they reported being prepared for these events; and whether they have taken specific actions to prepare, like signing up for weather alerts or creating a household plan.
The researchers found that, despite 80% of Americans experiencing severe weather in the past three years, fewer than 60% reported being prepared.
“That really speaks to a big gap in preparedness,” Ghosh said in the interview.
Ghosh also said that the research identified disparities in preparedness levels among racial and ethnic groups, with non-Hispanic white adults demonstrating higher readiness compared to others. Younger adults, she noted, were the least prepared.
“Perhaps this is something that we really need to emphasize among young adults who may not have had experience with these types of events during their lifetimes,” Ghosh said.
Ghosh explained that severe weather preparedness and public health are deeply intertwined. Severe weather events can not only cause physical harm, but also create mental health concerns and disrupt access to essential medical care, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions.
“Protecting lives is really front and center when it comes to emergency preparedness,” she said.
Ghosh also emphasized the importance of preparedness actions such as creating emergency kits and heeding evacuation orders. The Heluna Health data brief includes a Resources tab, which offers detailed checklists and recommendations that can help guide individuals in taking those proactive steps. Click here to watch the full interview.
