Searching for Preparedness

With ramped-up weather events keeping Americans on their toes these days, it’s no wonder more of them are getting ready for it. What that looks like depends on location and climate, so we decided to find out where, when, and how people are preparing.

Based on Google Trends search data for different preparedness terms and devices, we determined the most prepared states in the U.S. Find out where your state ranks and what you might need to be ready for a severe weather event.

Some of the most prepared states were also the ones most likely to face extreme weather. With the top 10 states all liable to get heavy snow each year, it’s reasonable that they’d want to prepare ahead of time in case leaving the house is impossible. Wyoming and North Dakota, in particular, may be more likely to need power outage supplies on hand. Their small populations mean remote living situations for many residents.

California ranked last in terms of searches. But since this state has been notably prone to vicious summer wildfires in recent years, residents may want to think about preparing for one.

Likely due to a deep freeze in February of 2021, Texas had a surge of preparedness-related searches in the same month of the following year. They were likely prepping for another winter storm in order to avoid being caught in another freeze without the proper supplies.

Meanwhile, other parts of the country started preparing during the winter months. But Florida had the most searches in September, which is typically peak hurricane season.

The supplies many Americans searched for were for purifying drinking water, staying warm, or keeping the lights on. New Yorkers searched most for headlamps, perhaps due to fears of another catastrophic blackout like the one that occurred there in 1977.

But most of the gulf states were looking for generators, except for Florida and Alabama—which were more interested in battery-operated radios and heated blankets, respectively. Perhaps many households in these hurricane-prone states already have generators and need other items instead.

Methodology

Payless Power collected 2021-2022 Google Trends search data for emergency items (generators, LifeStraws, emergency kits, etc.) to find the states most prepared for weather emergencies.

About Payless Power

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Fair Use Statement

If you enjoyed our study, you’re more than welcome to share it for any noncommercial purposes. We only ask that you link back to these findings in doing so.