Date of Conferral

10-6-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Gregory Campbell

Abstract

Older adults are at an increased risk of mortality during hazardous emergencies; therefore, it is crucial to comprehend how current emergency preparedness policies are related to preparedness perceptions of older adults. Findings in recent literature identified the underrepresentation of older adults in Emergency Preparedness studies across all areas and Counties of the state of Florida as a gap that needs to be addressed. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between the 2023 FEMA policy on emergency preparedness and the self-reported degree of preparedness among Florida’s older adult residents in urban and rural areas across socioeconomic statuses through the lens of the institutional theory framework. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the impact of rurality and socioeconomic status on predicting the likelihood of disaster preparedness and awareness of preparedness information among 275 older adults in Florida. Socioeconomic status emerged as a significant predictor of preparedness, X² (2) = 0.006, p < .05. Older adults experiencing socioeconomic disadvantages had 3.06 times higher odds of being unprepared for disasters compared to their counterparts who did not experience such disadvantages. The study has potential for positive social change as the results can be used to inform emergency planning to cater to the unique needs of the older population. Additionally, through the potentially improved planning, greater efficiencies can potentially be realized across government levels.

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