Description
This study explores the relationship between socioeconomic status and earthquake preparedness levels among Antelope Valley residents. Existing literature has demonstrated how socioeconomic status affects disaster preparedness levels, but there is little research on how socioeconomic status is associated with earthquake preparedness levels among those who live on a major known active fault. Although disaster research can be generalizable to earthquakes, it is only generalizable to a certain extent; the unpredictability of earthquakes has posed a major challenge to preparedness efforts, which is a testament to the need for earthquake-specific research. In addition to measuring preparedness levels, this study compares perceptions of preparedness to actual preparedness using both quantitative and qualitative methods. In this study, data from 111 Antelope Valley residents were collected via Qualtrics survey, which asked respondents to provide their demographic information, short-answer responses about earthquake preparedness and preparedness perceptions, and measures of agreeableness to relevant scales. Data were coded and tested using STATA software; Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and t-tests were run to determine the relationships between socioeconomic status, self-rated earthquake preparedness measures, and actual earthquake preparedness measures. Findings suggest that there are significant relationships between socioeconomic status and certain elements of earthquake preparedness. Notably, strong relationships were found between homeownership status and preparedness and income levels and preparedness, which is consistent with existing disaster literature. Ultimately, this study has shown how low socioeconomic status can negatively impact earthquake preparedness levels, thus negatively impacting post-earthquake recovery.
