Disaster Preparedness: Over 70% Have Basic Supplies, Yet Less Than 1% Feel Fully Prepared

Alulu Mall, operated by System Research Co., Ltd. (HQ: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture), conducted a nationwide survey on disaster preparedness among men and women aged 30 to 69.

The results revealed that over 70% of respondents have basic supplies such as water and emergency food. However, less than 1% of respondents felt their disaster preparedness was 'fully sufficient.' While the prevalence of basic preparations is increasing, there remains a lingering sense of anxiety that they are 'not quite enough.'

Survey Results

### Less than 1% feel 'fully prepared'

When asked about the level of their household's disaster preparedness, less than 1% answered 'fully prepared.' In contrast, 26.8% said they were 'somewhat prepared,' while 32.8% felt they were 'not very prepared.' This indicates that disaster preparedness is not a binary choice of doing it or not; many people have some supplies but feel they fall short of being sufficient.

### Over 70% implement basic measures

When asked about actual disaster prevention measures taken, 76.7% reported having 'lights/chargers,' and 75.3% reported having 'water/emergency food,' with basic measures exceeding 70%. In contrast, measures such as 'preparation tailored to family needs' (23.3%), 'confirming family contact methods' (30.7%), and 'regular checking of expiration dates/batteries' (34.7%) remained lower.

### Gaps between perceived 'peace of mind' and actual preparation

When asked about what level of preparation provides peace of mind, basic items like water, food, and lights showed high actual implementation rates. However, items such as 'tailoring to family,' 'confirming with family,' and 'regular reviews' showed a trend where the perceived importance for peace of mind far exceeded actual practice. The largest gaps were found in 'preparation tailored to family,' 'confirming contact methods,' and 'regular checks.'

### 'Doing just enough for now' is the most common sentiment

When asked about their current mindset regarding disaster preparedness, the most common response (38.7%) was, 'I've done some, so it's okay for now,' followed by 'I'm concerned but putting it off' (28.7%).

### Need for a 'minimum essentials set'

When asked what would help reduce anxiety regarding disaster preparedness, 56.7% chose a 'minimum essentials set.' It seems that the difficulty in determining what constitutes the 'minimum required for safety' is a major source of anxiety, rather than not knowing where to start.

### Moving from 'having supplies' to 'knowing if it's enough'

This survey revealed that while basic preparations are spreading, anxiety remains. Going forward, simply acquiring disaster supplies is not enough; it will be important to provide clear guidance on how much is 'enough' based on family size, age, and lifestyle.