NATURAL disasters are increasing with wild weather patterns leading to bushfires, storms and floods.

A national survey has revealed that over half of those surveyed said they wouldn’t cope well, or at all, if they experienced a natural disaster event in the next year.

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Furthermore, almost one-third of people in high disaster risk areas believe their community was not prepared for future disasters.

The study also found that experiencing a disaster greatly influenced how prepared and confident people felt about the future, with 71% of disaster survivors confident their communities were prepared for the next disaster, compared with 51% of those who have never experienced one.

The survey highlights the need to better support communities to build preparedness and resilience strategies that can be drawn upon in times of disaster.

Australians who have lived through a natural disaster are more confident to face one again, but many feel ill-prepared and unable to cope if disaster were to strike within the next year, a national survey found.

The study found that experiencing a disaster greatly influenced how prepared and resilient people felt if disaster struck again.

When asked about future disasters, 67% said they would cope ‘well’ or ‘very well’, compared to 48% of those who had never experienced disaster.

But some respondents living in disaster-prone areas were completely unaware of their level of risk, and almost half of all respondents indicated they did not feel their community was prepared for a natural disaster.

With natural disasters projected to increase in frequency and intensity, Fire to Flourish CEO Briony Rogers said the study shines a light on the need for increased and ongoing investment in initiatives that build community resilience and support a community-led approach to recovery when disaster does occur.

“Our survey revealed that a significant portion of the Australian community do not feel prepared for a natural disaster, and feel that their household and community will have low resilience in the event a disaster hits,” Monash University Associate Professor Rogers said.

“This reveals an opportunity to better support our communities to build a foundation of resilience, that can be a support in times of disaster and beyond.”

For those that experienced a disaster, the survey also shows this challenging experience can become a source of strength.

Participants with disaster experiences reported greater confidence that their household was prepared (68% vs 43%), felt more connected to their communities, shared information about local problems and initiatives more regularly (61% vs 49%), and had people in their community equipped to step up and lead recovery efforts if they need to (62% vs 49%).

“While disaster survivors are often depicted as victims with reduced capacities, this is not how they see themselves.

In fact, Australians who have gone through a natural disaster bounce back, more confident in their ability to cope with whatever the future may throw at them,” Associate Professor Rogers said.

“All disasters, including fires and floods, happen within our communities.

“These communities form the backbone of any response, yet they’re often under-utilised in broader disaster preparedness and recovery.

“Harnessing the strengths and unique lived-experience of disaster survivors can support community-led recovery, tailored to local priorities and place.

“Our approach seeks to facilitate transformative change and demonstrate what can be achieved when communities are not just passive recipients of recovery funds, but are supported to actively find their own ways to rebuild and recover,” Associate Professor Rogers said.

By Marian SAMPSON