New Report Shows Only 8% of Houston Homeowners “Very Well Prepared” for Disasters

If disaster strikes Houston, are you ready?

According to a new survey, 92% of local homeowners do not feel prepared for a natural disaster.

Rice University’s Kinder Institute published the survey online in May, just weeks before the start of the 2025 hurricane season.

Here’s what the Kinder Institute found:

Houston County / Harris County Homeowner Disaster Preparedness Survey

• 58% feel “somewhat prepared”
• 32% say they have a plan “just in case”
• 26% have tested a communication plan
• 16% have practiced emergency drills
• 70% reported worrying about disasters happening in the Houston area, with 90% believing it was “at least somewhat likely” that a disaster would strike their home

The survey was conducted in spring 2024. You can view an overview of the study at Rice.edu or download the full 22-page survey here.

About the Survey

The Kinder Institute’s data comes from a survey fielded to the Greater Houston Community Panel (GHCP) in spring 2024. Residents were asked to report on their health, well-being, and disaster preparedness.

Results were collected via email and text message. The survey covered a total of 5,350 respondents across Houston County and Harris County.

Analysts balanced the data to be representative of Houston and Harris County, controlling for sociocognitive factors, individual factors, gender, age, race, ethnicity, and income level, among other factors.

Respondents specifically assessed their disaster preparedness using a list of 10 preparedness actions derived from FEMA’s National Household Survey, which involves ranking preparedness from 0 to 10 (a higher number indicates a greater level of preparedness).

Perceived Preparedness Among Houston & Harris County Residents

Residents of Houston County & Harris County gave themselves low scores for disaster preparedness.

Here’s how local residents – including homeowners and renters – rated their level of preparedness for a natural disaster:

• 11% of residents claimed they were “not at all prepared”
• 30% of residents claim they were “not too prepared”
• 50% of residents described themselves as “somewhat prepared”
• Only 8% of residents claimed they were “very well prepared”

Residents who reported being “very well prepared” for disasters tended to be older adults (65 or older) with higher income levels. Researchers also found that households with at least one individual with a disability were more likely to report a high level of preparedness.

Are Houston Homeowners Prepared?

A significant part of the Kinder Institute’s survey covered disaster preparedness – specifically, whether or not Houston homeowners were prepared for an upcoming disaster or had taken action.

Here’s what the survey found:

• 60% of Houston residents reported taking action to make their homes safer against natural disasters
• 54% reported documenting and insuring property
• 35% reported collecting emergency supplies
• 57% signed up for alerts and warnings
• 42% knew evacuation routes
• 32% had made a household family emergency plan, although only 26% had tested a family communication plan, and just 16% had practiced emergency drills

Other Findings

Other notable findings from the survey included:

• Households with higher income tended to have better preparedness against natural disasters, which echoes the results of previous trials
• Homeownership was also linked to better disaster preparedness; Houston and Harris County residents who owned their homes tended to be better prepared
• Households with one or more persons with disabilities tended to be more prepared for disasters than households without
• Historically marginalized and minority populations, along with young adults, reported the lowest level of preparedness for natural disasters
• Trust in authorities was a key factor; households that reported high levels of trust for local officials also tended to have higher levels of preparedness

How to Prepare for a Natural Disaster in Houston

In Houston, it’s not a matter of if but when. Hurricanes can strike the Gulf Coast at any time through summer and fall, turning your life upside down.

Preparation can – quite literally – make the difference between life and death.

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey directly led to the deaths of 89 victims, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone in the state since 1919, according to NESDIS.

Here are some of the steps you can take in Houston today to go from an unprepared household to a very well prepared household:

1. Review Insurance Coverage Today: Windstorm and hail exclusions are common in Texas. If you don’t have extra wind and hail coverage, then you may not receive compensation after a hurricane. Review your coverage and make sure you understand how it applies.
2. Check If You’re in a Flood Zone: Depending on local flood risk, you may wish to buy separate flood insurance from FEMA’s NFIP. Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. A significant part of Houston is at risk of flooding.
3. Take Photos of Everything, Particularly High-Value Items: Once a year, document all of the valuable items in your home. Take photos and videos of each room in your home. Document the condition of your roof, siding, garage, and fencing. Save that data to the cloud or keep digital evidence in a secure location. It could be the difference between winning or losing a future claim. Try doing this at the start of hurricane season each year.
4. Create a Home Inventory: 54% of Houston residents reported documenting and insuring their property. Creating a home inventory is a great start. Keep track of valuable items in your home, including the date you purchased those items and any other evidence – like receipts or credit card statements.
5. Clear Gutters & Storm Drains: Clogged gutters increase the risk of water damage. They can cause water to splash back against your home or onto your foundation.
6. Reinforce Windows & Doors: Some Houston residents install storm shutters. Others have plywood sheets cut and ready to protect windows. Some add braces to garage doors (especially if they’re not wind-rated). Others weatherstrip doors to prevent wind-driven rain from entering.
7. Prepare an Emergency Kit: A good emergency kit has first aid supplies, flashlights with batteries, a radio, non-perishable food (for 3 to 5 days), bottled water (1 gallon per person per day), pet supplies, medication, a phone charger, and any other important items – all in a waterproof bin that’s ready to grab at a moment’s notice.
8. Backup Important Documents: If a hurricane strikes and destroys your home, you may not have time to grab important documents. Create copies of important documents, then store digital copies in the cloud (or physical copies in a secure location like a safe deposit box).
9. Know How to Shut Off Utilities: Before a storm, make sure you understand how to shut off your utilities – like electricity at the breaker, gas lines, and your main water valve. This can limit damage after a disaster.
10. Know Your Houston Evacuation Zone: Follow the guide at https://www.h-gac.com/hurricane to discover your local evacuation zone. If you’re told to evacuate, then evacuate early. The longer you wait, the more clogged the roads tend to be.
11. Communicate Your Plan: Make sure everyone in your household knows your emergency plan. Where is your emergency kit? Who should you call if you get separated? Where should you go if you’re in different parts of the city when the storm strikes?
12. Save a Public Adjuster’s Contact Info: When a storm strikes, insurers and public adjusters quickly become busy. Save a local public adjuster’s contact info before a storm to ensure you have the best chance of a fair settlement.

By taking the actions above, you can become one of the 8% of Houston homeowners who claim to be “very well prepared” for natural disasters – from hurricanes to floods.