Perception of Emerging Technology for Emergency Preparedness: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study gauges the preparedness levels of individuals (younger and older) across hazards and investigates their willingness to use emerging technology for disaster preparedness. Older adults are among the most vulnerable during disasters and more likely to be displaced. As climate change contributes to the increased frequency, intensity, and scale of disasters, the number of areas impacted by multiple hazards has also increased. In December 2023, a nationwide survey with over 1,000 respondents was launched. The results indicate a variation in the perception of preparedness across hazards, at the individual level. Additionally, most respondents would use emerging technology to help them improve their disaster preparedness, including smart speakers, phones, mobile appliances, cars, wearable devices, robots, and virtual reality devices. Findings indicate that older adults may be willing to use emerging technology that they are uncomfortable with for disaster preparedness, necessitating training, exercises, and qualitative research to understand how and why