Fear factor: People feel less safe, doubt local government readiness
A public opinion poll commissioned by Trust for America's Health (TFAH) finds that nearly seven years after the Sept. 11, 2001, more than half of all Americans believe the country is less safe now than it was before the terrorist attacks. Americans have little confidence in preparations to handle a variety of potential threats or public health emergencies at the national and local levels.
Only 44% of those adults surveyed believe the U.S. is safer now than before the 2001 attacks. While there are large blocs of nearly every demographic group that indicate the nation is not as safe, pollsters did see some differences across gender, age, and racial and geographic boundaries. Thus, African Americans are least likely to believe the country is safer now and women are more likely than men to question the level of safety. In general, belief in the country's safety rises as income increases. Though a majority of Americans in every region indicate the country is less safe now, those living in the South are most confident in the current level of safety in the country.
Not only do people feel less safe than they did before, but they also believe the country and local communities are unprepared for several types of emergencies. Some 59% say their communities would not be ready to deal with a large-scale national disaster similar to Hurricane Katrina, while 68% believe their communities would not be prepared to handle a bioterrorism attack. Similarly, 66% of Americans believe the country is not prepared for an outbreak of pandemic flu. Women are less likely to believe that the country and their communities are prepared to address public health emergencies and minority populations also express less belief in the country's preparedness to respond to these situations.
On a scale of 0 to 10, Americans rate their level of worry about specific disasters between 4.2 and 5.3. Concerning the latter, the highest level of worry is in connection with food contamination. A pandemic flu outbreak drew a 4.9 rating; a new major disease outbreak such as extensively drug-resistant (XDR-) tuberculosis, 4.8; a biological or chemical terrorism attack, 4.8; and a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, 4.2. Some of the most vulnerable Americans, including older women, African Americans, and Hispanics, express greater worry about each of the threats than do other Americans. TFAH says a huge divide also exists on a socioeconomic level, as Americans with only a high school education are far more likely to express concern about these events than are their college-educated counterparts.
Americans with school-age children overwhelmingly believe that their child's school has a plan in place to handle an emergency. Some 88% say such a plan exists and only 6% say there is no plan. The remaining 6% are uncertain. Parents also are confident their children are adequately prepared to handle emergencies. Thus, 60% of adults with school-age children say their child knows what to do in case of a public health emergency, while 37% say their children are not prepared for such an event.
Although Americans believe that preparing for natural disasters and public health emergencies is a shared responsibility for governments and individuals, many of us have not taken steps needed to ensure that we and our families are ready for a catastrophe. Americans are most likely to have stockpiled two weeks worth of food and water supplies (59%) and prescription and over-the-counter medications (58%). But less than 50% have made plans for reuniting with other family members if separated during an emergency (46%) and just 45% of adults have an alternate plan to communicate with family members if cell phone service is unavailable during an emergency.
The poll results show that Americans younger than age 50 are much less likely than their older counterparts to have stashed food and medical supplies in their homes for emergency use. This is particularly true of prescription and over-the-counter drugs: two-thirds of Americans over age 50 maintain a two-week supply in their homes, while just under half of those under age 50 have stockpiled adequate amounts of medicines. Americans with less than a college education (55%) are less likely than college-educated Americans to keep an emergency supply of medications in preparation for an emergency (64%). And those living in the South and West are more likely than Americans in the northeast and central parts of the country to have plans to communicate and reunite with their families if an emergency occurs.
Nearly 90% of Americans say they would abide by a voluntary quarantine and stay home if there is a pandemic flu. Among those who say they wouldn't stay home, the main reasons given were fear of losing needed income or fear of losing their job altogether.
Download the poll analysis from the TFAH preparedness report at http://healthyamericans.org/reports/bioterror07/BioTerrorReport2007.pdf.
A public opinion poll commissioned by Trust for America's Health (TFAH) finds that nearly seven years after the Sept. 11, 2001, more than half of all Americans believe the country is less safe now than it was before the terrorist attacks.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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