Survey shows disaster-prone Southeast Asia is also best prepared, suggesting lessons can be learned

Southeast Asia, despite being one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world, stands out for its preparedness in dealing with natural disasters. A new analysis by Gallup for the Lloyd's Register Foundation, released on Thursday, reveals that people in Southeast Asia feel more equipped to handle natural disasters than those in many other regions, including wealthier parts of the world.

The region, located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, faces frequent earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural hazards. However, the survey shows that frequent exposure to disasters isn't the only determinant of preparedness. According to Benedict Vigers, a research consultant with Gallup, the effectiveness of early-warning systems, community-based approaches, regional cooperation, and access to disaster financing have played a crucial role in enhancing disaster preparedness across Southeast Asia.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has also significantly contributed to disaster risk reduction efforts in the region. This comprehensive approach has resulted in high levels of resilience across both individual and societal levels, making Southeast Asia a global leader in disaster preparedness.

The survey found that 40% of respondents in Southeast Asia had experienced a natural disaster in the past five years. However, 67% of Southeast Asians felt well-prepared to protect their families, and 62% had emergency plans in place. By contrast, in Southern Asia, where 36% of respondents had also experienced a disaster, only 49% felt prepared, and just 29% had emergency plans.

Interestingly, wealth was not a decisive factor in disaster preparedness. Southeast Asia, largely consisting of lower-middle-income countries, demonstrates that effective disaster response and preparation can be achieved without significant financial resources. Ed Morrow, senior campaigns manager for the Lloyd's Register Foundation, highlighted that Southeast Asia has much to teach the world about disaster preparedness.

The Philippines topped the global ranking for natural disaster experiences, with 87% of respondents having encountered one in the past five years. It also ranked high in household disaster planning, with 84% of respondents having a plan in place. Other Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam (83%), Cambodia (82%), and Thailand (67%), also had high levels of disaster preparedness, surpassing even the United States (62%).

In contrast, countries like Egypt, Kosovo, and Tunisia had the lowest proportion of households with disaster plans, at just 7%.

The data, part of the World Risk Poll, collected from 142 countries, aims to inform governments, NGOs, and international bodies to better target disaster preparedness policies and interventions. Surveys were conducted through telephone or face-to-face interviews with over 1,000 respondents per country, except in China, where 2,200 people were surveyed online. The poll's margin of error ranged between 2.2 to 4.9 percentage points, with a 95% confidence level.

This analysis emphasizes that Southeast Asia’s approach to disaster preparedness can serve as a model for other regions globally, underscoring the importance of strategic planning, resilience-building, and community cooperation in reducing disaster risks.