Understanding the Impacts of COVID-19 and Other Disaster Experiences on Motivations to Prepare for Future Disasters.

This article examines how past disaster experiences, including the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, influence individuals' motivation to prepare for future disasters, using data from the 2021 US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Household Survey. Findings indicate that experiencing COVID-19 and technological disasters, as well as heightened risk perceptions of pandemics and natural disasters, affect motivation for preparedness, with sociodemographic factors such as race/ethnicity and disability playing significant roles—Hispanic individuals showed increased motivation, while people with disabilities were less motivated. The study highlights the importance of a transformative social work approach that addresses structural causes of disasters, promotes community-level change, and provides intersectional support to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience. Limitations include the US-specific context and the inability to capture detailed disaster severity or recovery status, suggesting the need for further comparative and nuanced research.