Report: New Yorkers More Prepared, but More Needs to be Done

May 22, 2006 10:57 AM

New Yorkers say they are better prepared for emergencies, but much more still needs to be done

Survey: Many Emergency Kits are Incomplete and Citizen Preparedness Plans Untested

New York – May 23, 2006 – Four in ten New Yorkers are more prepared for an emergency than a year ago, but many still have yet to assemble critical safety supplies and information, according to a new report by the American Red Cross in Greater New York and New York University’s Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response (CCPR). Based on the key findings of this report, both the American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) and NYU have announced expanded efforts to help New York prepare for emergencies.

“Residents of New York City say they are better prepared today than a year ago to cope with a major emergency or disaster, but we all still have so much more to accomplish,” said Theresa A. Bischoff, CEO, American Red Cross in Greater New York.
The report includes comprehensive survey data concerning New Yorkers’ perception of their own preparedness as well as the specific steps they claim to have taken to better prepare themselves and their households. These findings include:

> Half of New Yorkers polled have emergency supply kits, but many of these kits are incomplete;

> 63% of New Yorkers polled have an emergency plan, but rarely have they put their plan to a test run or practiced it;

> Many New Yorkers are taking preparedness steps in their homes, but few have all the necessary supplies.


Contact:
Tim Raducha-Grace
Associate Director
T. 212-998-2208
tim.Raduchagrace@nyu.edu


Continue reading press release (.pdf) »

New York Times: "New Yorkers' Disaster Preparedness Falls Short, Study Finds" May 22, 2006 (.pdf) »

New York Times: "Preparing for an Emergency" June 2, 2006 (.pdf) »

Read the report (.pdf) »