Disaster Preparedness in Disaster-Prone Areas: A Scoping Review and Implications for Health Resilience

Abstract

Background: Over the past decade, natural hazard events have become increasingly frequent and severe worldwide, highlighting the importance of community preparedness to protect health and well-being during emergencies. Although disaster risk reduction has been extensively studied, empirical evidence remains limited on the actual preparedness of residents and households, particularly regarding the extent to which disaster knowledge is translated into practical preparedness actions. Objective: This scoping review aimed to map the current state of disaster preparedness among residents and households in disaster-prone areas worldwide. Methods: Relevant studies were searched for across PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, and Scopus, following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and using relevant keywords, including “disaster preparedness” and “disaster-prone area”. The search covered the period from January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2025. Articles were screened against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a quality appraisal was conducted to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: From an initial 7,234 articles, 27 met the eligibility and quality standards for inclusion. The included studies predominantly originated from Asia, reflecting the region’s high exposure to diverse hazards such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, droughts, storms, typhoons, and cyclones. Disaster preparedness was assessed across multiple components, including knowledge and attitudes, emergency planning, emergency kits, participation in training, insurance ownership, and protection of critical documents. These findings indicate that preparedness involves not only knowledge but also the capacity of individuals and communities to prepare and respond to disaster risks. Conclusion: Translating knowledge into preparedness action, strengthening confidence in preparedness measures, and building community capacity are essential for improving disaster resilience and supporting health protection during emergencies.