Prior Disaster Experience and Disaster Risk Perception: Associations with Preparedness Concern In a National U.S. Sample

Background and purpose:

As climate-related disasters increase in frequency and intensity, the psychological and behavioral consequences of disaster exposure have emerged as a growing concern. Research suggests that individuals who have experienced disasters may develop a heightened awareness of future risks. However, how lived experience shapes risk perception and disaster-related capacity building concern remains underexplored. Understanding these relationships is necessary for developing disaster preparedness interventions that respond effectively to the needs of vulnerable populations. This study examines whether prior disaster experience is associated with individuals’ perceived disaster risk and concern about disaster-related capacity building in a national U.S. sample.

Methods:

This study used data from the 2023 FEMA National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness (N = 7,604), a national dataset designed to capture insight into the American public’s preparedness motivations and behaviors. Survey weights were applied to ensure population-level representativeness. Weighted linear regression models examined the association between prior disaster experience (yes/no) and two outcomes: perceived disaster risk and capacity building concern. Age, sex, race, and income were included as control variables.

Results:

Both regression models were statistically significant. For perceived disaster risk, the model explained 8.6% of the variance (R2 = .086, p <.001). Prior disaster experience was a significant predictor (B = .346, p <.001), indicating that individuals with prior disaster experience reported higher perceived disaster risk compared to those without prior experience. For capacity building concern, the model explained 2.1% of the variance (R2 = .021, p <.001). Prior disaster experience remained a significant predictor (B =.180, p < .001), suggesting that individuals with prior disaster exposure reported greater concern about disaster preparedness.

Conclusions and Implications:

Findings suggest that prior disaster experience plays a meaningful role in shaping how cognitive (disaster risk perception) and emotional (capacity building concern) responses to future disasters. Given the cross-sectional nature of the data, results should be interpreted as associative, not causal. These findings have implications for social work practice and disaster preparedness efforts, particularly in identifying populations who may underestimate disaster risk due to lack of prior experience. As climate-related disasters continue to intensify, incorporating lived disaster experience into preparedness and mental health frameworks may improve the effectiveness and equity of disaster response efforts.