| Research in disaster has generally focused on whether a household is prepared or not for various types of disaster events, e.g., hurricane, flooding, etc. However, little has been written about why individuals choose to prepare or not prepare. This study fills a gap in the existing disaster literature by focusing on hurricane preparation intentions by socially vulnerable communities. Grounding the research in social cognitive theories moves the discussion beyond 'do' socially vulnerable communities prepare to one in which attention is given to why do they choose to prepare or not prepare for hurricanes. This study tests a model developed by Douglas Paton in New Zealand where he examined individual disaster preparedness intention and actions as it related to earthquakes. The same social cognitive constructs were examined in this research, but focused on socially vulnerable populations and hurricane preparation.;Using a cross-sectional design, two populations (vulnerable and non-vulnerable) were compared at one point in time in terms of differences on the outcome variable of hurricane preparation. Data from 153 households in Escambia County, Florida, were collected using a mail-out questionnaire. Correlation analyses and structural equation modeling were used to determine the effect of 11 different variables on the outcome variable of hurricane preparation. Comparisons were made between the combined sample (n=153) and the two sub-population samples of vulnerable (n = 53) and nonvulnerable (n=100).;Results show a much less complex model than Paton's. In my model, there are three directional paths to disaster preparation. In the first path individuals go from risk perception directly to individual intentions with the result being hurricane preparations. A second path indicates risk perception leads to perceived control resulting in hurricane preparations. The final path individuals go from risk perception to perceived control to individual intentions through action coping.;Due to the small sub-samples, a model comparison between the two groups was not possible. However, correlation analyses indicate that the non-vulnerable population uses a much more complex decision process in deciding to prepare for hurricanes than the vulnerable population. The vulnerable sample appears to "react" by preparing and not contemplate what would happen if they did not prepare. |
