EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OF

VETERANS AND NONVETERANS

Joe Geiger5/4/2015

Research Question• Are U.S. Military Veterans more

prepared than their nonveteran counterparts for domestic emergencies (natural disasters, anthropogenic disasters, and acts of terror) based on the emergency preparedness recommendations of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency?

Survey• 113 Respondents• Categories: Demographics, Abilities,

and Preparedness & Awareness• 5 Step Likert Scale• Demographics: Standard queries • Abilities: Pinpointed important skills

useful to emergency managers• Preparedness & Awareness:

Investigated compliance with FEMA’s recommendations for preparedness

Male68%

Female32%

Respondents' Gender

Figure 1

20-344%

35-4418%

45-5433%

55+46%

Respondents' Age

Figure 2

High School4%

Technical Education2%

Some College Education

32%Bachelors or Higher63%

Respondents' Education

Figure 3

U.S. Army52%

U.S. Marine Corps16%

U.S. Navy32%

Respondents' Armed Forces Branches

Figure 4

Emer

genc

y Sup

ply K

it

Loca

l Com

munity

Subjec

t to T

erro

rism

U.S. Pre

pare

d for

Terro

rism

U.S. Sub

ject t

o Ter

roris

m0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

2.85

1.98

3.49

4.44

2.8

2.01

3.35

4.31

Figure 5. Comparisons with No Statistical Significance (95% Confidence)

VeteransNonveterans

Mea

n R

espo

nse

Valu

e

Kit con

tainin

g ess

entia

ls

Kit con

tainin

g med

ical s

uppli

es

Kit con

tainin

g impo

rtant

docu

ments

Abilit

y to h

andle

susp

iciou

s pac

kage

s

Awar

enes

s of c

ommun

ity de

signa

ted fa

ll out

shelt

ers

Willing

ness

to pr

ovide

lead

ersh

ip an

d dire

ction

to ot

hers

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

2.72

1.98 2.02

4.08 4.03

4.48

2.33

1.721.51

3.183.51

4.03

Figure 6. Comparisons with Statistical Significance (95% Con-fidence)

VeteransNonveterans

Mea

n R

espo

nse

Valu

e

Conclusions• Veterans more prepared for domestic

emergencies• Veterans more willing to provide

leadership and direction • No difference between likelihood to

have an emergency supply kit • No difference in belief of United States

preparedness for terrorism• Future studies should develop veteran-

specific training and test its efficacy