Correlates of School Disaster Preparedness: Main Effects of Funding and Coordinator Role

Abstract

This study examined the correlates of public schools’ preparedness for emergencies and disasters. Hypotheses for the study were derived from the social science literature on disaster preparedness among schools, households, and organizations. It was hypothesized that preparedness would be associated with demographic factors, general and preparedness-specific resources, and prior experience. A mail survey was conducted with a sample of 470 public schools in California between September 2005 and February 2006. Responses were obtained from 157 schools. Multivariate regression analyses were performed with unweighted data. Having funding for preparedness activities and a school-based emergency preparedness coordinator were positively associated with measures of school preparedness, including perceived level of preparedness, availability of emergency equipment and supplies, extent of interagency coordination, and provision of in-service training. School characteristics, such as size, urbanicity, general resource base, and prior experience with emergencies or disasters were not associated with levels of preparedness.