Emergency Preparedness Among College Students at the University of Arkansas

Students at the University of Arkansas could be susceptible to multiple forms of disaster including severe winter weather, earthquakes, tornadoes, lightning, floods, toxin release, radiological release from nuclear power plant, infectious diseases, food contamination, fires, active shooters, and bomb threats (Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], 2013). The unpredictability of natural disasters, coupled with the increase in targeted school violence, served as the impetus for various federal initiatives intended to protect university populations (FEMA, 2003). The purpose of this study was to determine the emergency preparedness levels of college students at the University of Arkansas. Only 50% of students were concerned with health threats and socioeconomic issues affecting their community; whereas less than half of students were concerned about disasters. College students at the University of Arkansas are overwhelmingly unprepared for an emergency. Only 60% of students had a 3-day supply of food in their home and less than 35% had water.College students are leaving their homes to attend universities and become autonomous for the first time in their lives. Although they are increasingly vulnerable to disasters, majority of students do not find themselves concerned about disasters. College students lack the necessary items and education required to be prepared. The University of Arkansas can tailor its emergency management efforts to the specific concerns identified by students (U.S. Department of Education, 2007)