Culture of preparedness: household disaster preparedness

Purpose This paper aims to examine household preparedness in response to disasters and the role of non‐profit organizations in the public's preparedness. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the context of hurricane preparedness of Central Florida residents, using the mail survey method as a data collection tool. Findings The findings of the study emphasize the importance of household and individual preparedness in response to natural disasters, specifically to hurricanes. If individuals are not ready, then nobody is ready. The paper finds that households, even with significant experience of disasters, can be complacent in response to disasters. Originality/value The paper focuses on household preparedness and emphasizes that the emergency management community needs to make a significant effort in training households.