GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New survey data released for National Preparedness Month reveals a significant gap between how prepared Americans believe they are for severe weather and whether they have taken basic steps to protect their homes, businesses and families.
According to the First Onsite Weather and Property Survey, just over half of Americans (54 percent) say they feel personally prepared to respond to a weather-related emergency. But that confidence isn’t always matched by basic preparedness measures: just 13 percent have an emergency plan, while only 38 percent have an emergency kit prepared.
The findings follow a summer marked by major weather emergencies across the country, from catastrophic flooding in Texas to widespread wildfires in the West. Three-in-10 Americans (30 percent) say they have personally experienced a weather-related disaster at their home or workplace within the past five years. Yet preparedness measures that can help households and businesses respond and recover remain relatively low.
“These findings are a reminder that community resilience starts with preparedness,” said Jenny Lindström, SVP, Customer Experience, First Onsite. “Feeling prepared is important, but resilience comes from taking action before an emergency occurs. When more of us have plans in place and understand how we will respond, our communities are better equipped to recover from disruption.”
Preparedness by the Numbers
The survey also found:
- 56 percent have reviewed their insurance coverage within the past 12 months
- 51 percent have important property documentation, such as insurance information or photos, backed up and easily accessible
- 31 percent have made physical property upgrades to improve resilience, such as installing a sump pump or generator
- 55 percent are confident in their local authorities' ability to respond effectively to emergencies
| TABLE 1: Emergency preparedness indicators by region (2026) | Total | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
| Feel personally prepared for a weather emergency | 54% | 54% | 51% | 58% | 49% |
| Have an emergency kit prepared | 38% | 30% | 30% | 44% | 41% |
| Have a written emergency plan | 13% | 10% | 6% | 15% | 18% |
| Reviewed insurance coverage in past 12 months | 56% | 53% | 55% | 57% | 58% |
| Have property documentation backed up and accessible | 51% | 51% | 45% | 53% | 52% |
| Made physical upgrades to improve resilience | 31% | 32% | 35% | 30% | 30% |
Source: First Onsite Property Restoration and Angus Reid. Shading indicates highest regional figure per row.
Preparedness also differs significantly depending on home ownership. Nearly two-thirds of homeowners (63 percent) say they feel personally prepared for a weather emergency, compared with 43 percent of non-homeowners. Homeowners are also more likely to have an emergency kit (46 percent versus 29 percent), a written emergency plan (16 percent versus 9 percent), and important property documentation backed up and accessible (60 percent versus 41 percent).
How Long Could Americans Manage if Their Home Became Unlivable?
Preparedness extends beyond what happens during an emergency to whether households can manage the disruption that follows.
If their home became unlivable because of storm damage, 47 percent of Americans say they could afford to stay elsewhere for one month or less, including 17 percent who could manage for less than one week. Another 20 percent are unsure how long they could afford alternative accommodation.
| TABLE 2: If home became unlivable, how long could you afford to stay elsewhere? (2026) | Total | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
| Less than one week | 17% | 14% | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| 1-2 weeks | 13% | 15% | 10% | 14% | 12% |
| About one month | 17% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 17% |
| NET: One month or less | 47% | 46% | 48% | 48% | 45% |
| Several months | 18% | 15% | 18% | 17% | 20% |
| More than six months | 16% | 18% | 15% | 16% | 13% |
| Not sure | 20% | 20% | 18% | 18% | 22% |
Source: First Onsite Property Restoration and Angus Reid. Shading indicates highest regional figure per row.
“For businesses, the impact of severe weather is often measured in more than physical damage,” said Lindström. “Loss of access, interrupted operations and uncertainty about next steps can extend the disruption well beyond the initial event. Having a continuity plan in place helps organizations make decisions faster, reduce downtime and begin recovery sooner.”
Preparing Before Severe Weather Strikes
National Preparedness Month provides an opportunity for households and businesses to review their emergency plans before they need them. First Onsite recommends knowing the weather risks in your area, preparing an emergency kit, documenting your property, reviewing insurance coverage and having a plan for where you would go if your home became temporarily unlivable.
For more information on proactive protection, visit the First Onsite Disaster Preparedness How-To Guides: https://firstonsite.com/resource-type/how-to-guides/
For more information on National Preparedness Month, visit Ready.gov.
Survey Methodology
These findings are from an Angus Reid Forum survey conducted by First Onsite Property Restoration from March 12 to March 16, 2026, among a representative sample of 1,007 Americans. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/−3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
About First Onsite: North America's Trusted Leader in Property Restoration
First Onsite Property Restoration is one of the largest and fastest-growing emergency response planning, mitigation, and reconstruction service providers in North America. First Onsite employs over 2,500 team members and operates from more than 100 locations across Canada and the U.S. With a culture focused on harnessing the human power of its team members and a commitment to doing what’s right, the First Onsite team helps clients restore, rebuild, and rise. First Onsite is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation. For more information, go to firstonsite.com or follow @firstonsite on LinkedIn.
Press Contact:
Terance Brouse
Maverick PR
647-667-7524
teranceb@wearemaverick.com
