Before Helene’s Landfall: Analysis of Disaster Risk Perceptions and Preparedness Assessment in the Southeastern United States in 2023

Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact on the Southeastern United States highlighted the critical importance of disaster preparedness. This study analyzes data from FEMA’s 2023 National Household Survey to examine pre-Helene disaster risk perception and preparedness levels among residents of six Southeastern states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Our aim was to assess baseline preparedness and gain insights that could inform future disaster planning. The analysis revealed significant inter-state variations in risk perceptions, with Florida residents showing the highest awareness (84% believing a disaster was likely or very likely) and Virginia residents the lowest (63%). Perceived primary threats varied geographically, with hurricanes dominating concerns in coastal states (78% in Florida) and tornadoes in inland areas (68% in Georgia). Despite these differences, concerns about losing access to essential services during disasters were consistent across all states, with over 60% of residents extremely concerned about energy and food/shelter disruptions. While self-reported confidence in disaster preparedness was high across all states, there was a notable discrepancy between this confidence and residents’ estimated ability to manage without power or water. For instance, only 47% of Florida residents believed they could manage without power for more than one week despite their high-risk perception. Home or renters’ insurance coverage ranged from 65% in Florida to 77% in South Carolina. Hazard-specific insurance varied widely, with hurricane insurance coverage at 53% in Florida compared to about 12% in Tennessee. Our findings provide timely insights into the state of disaster preparedness in the wake of Helene, emphasizing more need for tailored, region-specific approaches to disaster preparedness and risk communication. The discrepancies between perceived and actual preparedness highlighted by this study can inform more effective strategies for enhancing community resilience in the face of increasing extreme weather events driven by climate change.