Study says Californians unmotivated to prepare for next disaster

Californians believe that their state is prone to disasters, but they see little motivation to prepare for nature’s crushing blows, a new poll has found.

The poll, sponsored by the Insurance Information Network of California and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., found that only 22 percent of Californians consider themselves prepared or very prepared for a disaster in their area.

Nearly half singled out “common sense” as the reason to prepare for disaster, but noted few incentives would motivate them to be ready for future earthquakes, floods or fires. The largest segment of respondents — only 10 percent — cited a local disaster as the reason to prepare. No other possible motivation — from financial incentives to educational programs — was acknowledged by more than 9 percent of those polled.

“Californians are conflicted about disaster preparation,” said IINC Executive Director Candysse Miller. “They recognize risk, but they often assume it will happen to someone else. They acknowledge that they aren’t prepared, but they can’t find the motivation to strap their water heaters, clear dry brush or prepare a home inventory.”

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Californians also do not believe that they should count on the government to bail them out financially after the next catastrophe. Many respondents indicated, however, that government should play a role in the preparation for and recovery after a catastrophe.

“Clearly, it is critical for us as an industry to find ways to encourage consumers to get better prepared for natural disasters — both physically and financially,” said Chris Heidrick, vice president of Personal Insurance for Fireman’s Fund.

The survey, which polled 800 residents across the state Feb. 4-8, also found that Californians consider it their own responsibility to be financially prepared for disaster.

Among the findings:

• 60 percent believe that there is more than a 10 percent chance of a catastrophe in their area in the next five years.
• 68 percent indicated that they rely on the insurance industry to help home and business owners rebuild after a disaster.
• 69 percent said that it is a home or business owner’s responsibility, not the government’s, to purchase adequate insurance or have savings set aside for emergencies to rebuild following a catastrophe.
• Only 20 percent believed that government financial assistance would see them through recovery.

Despite California’s history of catastrophic earthquakes, wildfires and flooding, many poll respondents felt that the West Coast was relatively safe.

Since 1990, California has had 32 natural catastrophes or disasters in which insured losses totaled more than $25 million, with losses totaling $19.4 billion.

Even if a disaster struck their neighborhood, 31 percent of respondents said they would rebuild in their community.

Nearly equal percentages of those polled considered the state to be both best prepared (35 percent) for earthquakes and least prepared (30 percent) for earthquakes among the disasters the state faces. Only tsunamis (40 percent) scored higher for the peril Californians consider themselves least prepared to handle.