How Does Your Preparedness Compare?

Disaster Response
Published

This post is part of a weekly series focused on National Preparedness Month.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released the results from its 2020 National Household Survey (NHS), which assesses the nation's progress in building a culture of preparedness. FEMA also reviews the perceptions and experiences that influence people to take steps to become more prepared.

Findings from the 2020 NHS show that, of the more than 5,000 respondents:

  • Over 68% have set aside money for an emergency
  • Only 48% have an emergency plan
  • Nearly 65% report seeking preparedness information
  • About 40% do not consider themselves prepared but intend to prepare
  • About 47% believe that preparing for a disaster can help, and they express confidence in their ability to prepare

In addition, FEMA uses the NHS to assess which preparedness actions individuals may take, as the agency's research suggests that certain actions lay the groundwork for pursuing other actions. The six actions studied include:

  • Have supplies to last three or more days
  • Talk with others about being prepared
  • Attend a local hearing or meeting
  • Seek information on preparedness
  • Participate in an emergency drill
  • Make an emergency plan

Overall, results from the 2020 NHS suggest 68% of participants took three or more of the surveyed preparedness actions — a 6% increase from 2019. Further analysis of the study, which has been conducted annually since 2013, suggests:

  • The percentage of the adult population that have no intent to prepare has decreased substantially since 2013 (21% in 2013 vs. 9% in 2020).
  • The percentage of the adult population that is not prepared but understands the importance of preparing and intends to do so within the next year has increased by 12 percentage points since 2013 (28% in 2013 vs. 40% in 2020), supporting the notion that there is an increased social awareness of the importance of preparing.

Although the NHS focuses on individual preparedness, these same activities and questions can be applied to your business and local home builders association (HBA). Engaging in preparedness conversations at the organizational level and taking proactive preparedness steps can help members and HBAs ensure they are well-positioned to weather future events.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Economics | Housing Affordability

Aug 21, 2025

New and Existing Homes Remain Largely Unaffordable in Second Quarter

While new homes remain largely unaffordable, builder efforts to improve housing affordability paid dividends in the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest data from the NAHB/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI). The CHI results from the second quarter of 2025 show that a family earning the nation’s median income of $104,200 needed 36% of its income to cover the mortgage payment on a median-priced new home. Low-income families, defined as those earning only 50% of median income, would have to spend 71% of their earnings to pay for the same new home.

Economics

Aug 20, 2025

Custom Home Building Grows as Broader Housing Market Struggles

An analysis of census data by NAHB economists shows that custom home building grew 4% in the second quarter of 2025 as high interest rates and home prices suppress demand for traditional spec home production.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Aug 21, 2025

Existing Home Sales Rise in July

Existing home sales rebounded in July as mortgage rates retreated from the recent peak and home price growth slowed, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Economics

Aug 21, 2025

New and Existing Homes Remain Largely Unaffordable in Second Quarter

While new homes remain largely unaffordable, builder efforts to improve housing affordability paid dividends in the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI).

Economics

Aug 20, 2025

Retreat for Single-Family Built-for-Rent Housing

Single-family built-for-rent construction fell back in the second quarter, as a higher cost of financing crowded out development activity.