Longitudinal Study of Hurricane Preparedness Behaviors: Influence of Collective Efficacy.

Objective: Community characteristics, such as collective efficacy, a measure of community strength, can affect behavioral responses following disasters. We measured collective efficacy 1 month before multiple hurricanes in 2005, and assessed its association to preparedness 9 months following the hurricane season.

Methods: Participants were 631 Florida Department of Health workers who responded to multiple hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. They completed questionnaires that were distributed electronically approximately 1 month before (6.2005-T1) and 9 months after (6.2006-T2) several storms over the 2005 hurricane season. Collective efficacy, preparedness behaviors, and socio-demographics were assessed at T1, and preparedness behaviors and hurricane-related characteristics (injury, community-related damage) were assessed at T2. Participant ages ranged from 21-72 (() = 48.50 (10.15)), and the majority were female (78%).

Results: In linear regression models, univariate analyses indicated that being older ( = 0.01, = 0.003, < 0.001), White ( = 0.22, = 0.08, < 0.01), and married ( = 0.05, = 0.02, < 0.001) was associated with preparedness following the 2005 hurricanes. Multivariate analyses, adjusting for socio-demographics, preparedness (T1), and hurricane-related characteristics (T2), found that higher collective efficacy (T1) was associated with preparedness after the hurricanes ( = 0.10, = 0.03, < 0.01; and = 0.47, = 0.04, < 0.001 respectively).

Conclusion: Programs enhancing collective efficacy may be a significant part of prevention practices and promote preparedness efforts before disasters.