Homeland Security Survey To Gauge Emergency Preparedness
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is gauging Indiana citizens’ readiness for emergencies and disasters through a brief online survey. The outcomes of the survey will help the public safety community gain a greater understanding of how prepared Indiana residents are and how to help increase that preparedness.
The online survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and can be found HERE.
All who participate can enter a contest to win a free all hazards/weather radio. The survey is open today and will stay open until at least Friday, Sept. 20. Individual responses will only be seen by IDHS staff, who will gather the data from the statewide survey.
The online survey is designed to emphasize the need for preparedness. September, which is National Preparedness Month, is a time when emergency management and other related partners specially emphasize being ready for an emergency or disaster. Messages during the month will seek to encourage all Hoosiers to take the necessary steps to ensure that their homes, workplaces and communities are prepared for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.
“Being ready for a major disaster is very important and the basics of a kit can be put together without a lot of effort or money,” said IDHS Senior Public Information Officer John Erickson. “Having a preparedness kit can make the aftermath of an emergency or disaster easier for individuals and emergency responders. We hope that this survey will remind Hoosiers of the importance of being prepared and what they can do to improve their level of preparedness.”
The survey was last conducted in 2011. One of the most compelling findings then was the difference in the level of preparedness between urban and rural areas. Residents of rural areas were nearly 12 percent more likely to be prepared than residents in urban areas. Regional differences were also noted. Three of the four highest-scoring regions, based on IDHS districts, were in the northwest portion of Indiana. The Interstate 69 corridor from Marion to Allen counties showed a relatively low level of preparedness in the 2011 survey.
Erickson also said asking Indiana residents how prepared they are for such a disaster is the key to understanding the needs of the population. This survey will help the IDHS gain a greater understanding of how to help educate Hoosiers about some simple, inexpensive actions they can take now that could make a significant difference should an emergency occur.
The link to the survey can be found HERE.