Preparedness Survey: 2026 Snapshot

Many people know disasters can happen. Fewer are taking steps to prepare.

According to new research from United Way Worldwide and Verizon, cost is the top obstacle to preparedness. Many people also say they don't know where to begin or don't have enough time. Yet getting ready can start with a few simple actions. And the benefits are clear: 68% of people who have experienced a disaster say they wish they had prepared differently.

Top Findings

Over half of adults worry about a disaster, but cost keeps them from preparing. New data underscores the importance of planning and personal networks.

The good news: preparedness can start with a few simple steps.

#1 Disaster Risk Feels Real

• The majority of those surveyed (60%) are concerned about natural disasters, either somewhat (38%) or very concerned (22%). 
• Younger adults are more likely to worry about natural disasters (60% of Gen Z and 65% of Millennials), but they are not more likely to prepare.
• Caregivers are more likely to be concerned about the impact of a natural disaster on their household than non-caregivers (71% vs. 57%).
• Concern about natural disasters is higher along the Gulf Coast (68%) and West Coast (64%) than the national average (60%).

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#2 Preparation Means Helping Family, Friends, and Neighbors

The top reason people prepare for disasters is to help ensure the physical safety of household members. 

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of adults feel a strong obligation to help people in their circle and say they can rely on family, friends, and neighbors in a crisis. 

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#3 Cost Is a Barrier 

• Cost is the most commonly identified barrier (45%).
• Not knowing what to do or how to get started is another common roadblock (28%) followed by lack of time (25%). 

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#4 Kits, Communication and Contacts Are Key

• Nearly half of adults (49%) say preparedness kits are what they need most to get ready.
• Affordable, accessible information on how to prepare is the second most-needed resource (39%).
• Local emergency services (49%), local news (42%), and government agencies (40%) are the most trusted sources of disaster information.
• Most people have limited support networks, with 68% reporting five or fewer contacts they can rely on during a crisis.

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#5 Experience Increases Focus on Preparing

• 21% of those surveyed say they have personally experienced a natural disaster.
• Among those who have experienced a disaster, more than two-thirds (68%) wished they'd done something differently to prepare.

• Nearly nine in 10 (87%) said the experience made them more focused on preparedness. 

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Download the key Findings (PDF)

United We Prepare, a United Way program supported by Verizon, is helping to make preparedness easier, more affordable, and more accessible. It provides tools and information to help people prepare before disaster strikes. 

Through hands-on workshops in 18 markets across 109 counties nationwide, United We Prepare offers free emergency kits, helpful planning tips and resources, and information about trusted local services, including 211, a 24/7 helpline that connects people with help in their communities.

For households already struggling to cover basic needs, preparing for a disaster can feel like one more cost and one more burden they can’t afford. But everyone deserves the peace of mind that comes from being prepared." 

Rosie Allen-Herring, Interim President & CEO of United Way Worldwide