Older adults׳ disaster preparedness in the context of the September 2010-December 2012 Canterbury earthquake sequence

Older adults are a population group identified to be at greater risk to negative outcomes in a disaster. However, there is limited contemporary research about independent older adults׳ disaster preparedness from an age specific perspective. The Canterbury earthquakes, which occurred in New Zealand, provided an opportunity to conduct 10 qualitative narrative interviews with a sample of participants aged between 66 and 86 years. Thematic analysis assisted in coding and interpretation of patterns across the dataset, and three central themes were identified: personal protection, practical preparedness, and social preparedness. The findings provide future practical direction for age specific preparedness planning during non-disaster times, which will also assist with improving outcomes for independent older adults during and after a disaster event.