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Only 11% of Americans feel prepared for severe weather recovery
The survey found 75.0% of respondents are as worried about the financial aftermath as the disaster itself, and 97% reported weather-related financial strain in recent years.
Most Americans expect severe weather to hit their community, but very few feel prepared to handle the financial recovery afterward, according to research commissioned by COUNTRY Financial and conducted by The Harris Poll.
The survey of 2,400 US adults, conducted online from June 29 to July 13, 2026, found 84.0% are concerned their community will experience a severe weather event or natural disaster in the next year, while only 11.0% feel highly prepared to respond and recover.
Three-quarters of respondents, 75.0%, said the financial aftermath of a severe weather event concerns them as much as the event itself, and 97.0% reported weather-related financial strain in recent years.
The report also indicates respondents have an average of 2.7 preparedness assets, a measure of the resources and plans they have for readiness and recovery, with strain tied to items such as higher utility bills, insurance costs, emergency supplies, property repairs, and lost income.