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A RECENT study revealed that most Americans would grab their cell phone during an emergency, choosing their handheld device over important documents like passports and social security cards.
The poll, which surveyed 2,000 US adults, also shows that prized possessions and emergency essentials tend to differ among generations.
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The survey’s results showed that younger generations, like Gen Z, were more likely to take their laptop or other electronic devices (35%), and even a pair of shoes (35%), over other emergency essentials, like prescription medications (30%), if they only had a few minutes to evacuate their home.
Meanwhile, older generations, like Gen X, were more focused on sentimental items like family photo albums (43%) over extra clothes (33%).
Baby Boomers were also more likely to hold onto pricey or heirloom jewelry, like engagement rings or wedding bands, than grabbing items like food (17%) and water (21%).
Commissioned by Master Lock and conducted by Talker Research on behalf of National Preparedness Month, the study highlighted what items Americans would save or take with them in the case of an emergency event.
Read More On Emergency Prep
The 2,000 participants were made up of four generational groups, including Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers.
Respondents were given 60 seconds to select items from the standard Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emergency preparedness checklist, which were also mixed in with a few other household items.
EMERGENCY ESSENTIALS
Despite some generational gaps, respondents did overwhelmingly select a few key items on the top of their list to save in the event of an emergency, like cell phones and backup chargers (50%) and important documents, like insurance policies and identification (45%).
Surprisingly, some items, like prescription medications (36%), food and snacks (36%), and water (33%) all ranked lower on the list for younger generations, including Millennials and Gen Z.
Electronic devices were clear winners, with 26% of respondents choosing to take their laptops or tablets with them over a change of clothes (24%), a sleeping bag or blanket (21%), and an extra pair of shoes (15%).
And, when asked to identify the most important item in their homes – excluding people and pets – most responses seemed to come from the heart.
Many individuals wrote in items, like their grandmother’s jewelry, paintings crafted by fellow family members, and reminders, like urns or military uniforms, of their dearly departed.
To protect their sentimental items and other valuables, a whopping 81% of respondents say they’re prioritizing security products, like waterproof or fireproof safes, in their homes.
Older generations were the most likely to have safes or other security items, with 90% of Baby Boomers citing they have a secure place to keep their important items.
“Results found that only about one in five people already keep their most valuable items in a regular safe inside their home (22%) or a water/fireproof safe (19%),” said Kevin Gannon, Master Lock Company’s Vice President of Category Management and Channel Marketing.
What things would Americans grab in the event of an emergency?
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans, including 500 people from the following generations: Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers.
Here are the items they would try to save in the event of an emergency:
- Cell phone – 74%
- Wallet/purse – 63%
- Birth certificate, passport, or other documents – 62%
- Social Security Card – 56%
- Prescription medications – 43%
- Family photo albums – 41%
- Clothing – 40%
- Laptop – 31%
- Shoes – 30%
- Water – 25%
- Food/Snacks – 25%
- My own jewelry (e.g. engagement rings, wedding bands) – 24%
- Over-the-counter medications (e.g. pain relievers, antacids) – 19%
- Toiletries – 17%
- Heirloom jewelry – 13%
- Gaming system – 10%
However, the same can’t be said for all respondents, who tend to disperse their valuables throughout their homes.
Americans tend to keep their most important items in their wallet (24%), while closets (24%) and dresser drawers (22%) are also popular options.
Just one in 10 Gen Zers keep their valuables under their bed (14%) or inside of, or under their mattress (11%).
“With an increase in natural disasters and in overall preparedness, it’s important to ensure that the items you hold closest to your heart are safe in the event of an emergency,” Gannon added.
OLDER, WISER, BETTER PREPARED
Still, despite not necessarily having a secure location for their prized possessions, 65% of Americans surveyed said they’re taking emergency preparedness more seriously today than they did a decade ago.
Reasons for the emergency preparations vary, though they include concerns over an increase in natural disasters (48%), followed by having a family or dependents to take care of (47%), and pets to worry about (36%).
“Nearly one-third of Americans would rather lose their home than their belongings inside and this underscores the importance of protecting what’s most valuable to you,” Gannon revealed.
The survey also found that many Americans are also relatively prepared for emergency events.
50% of respondents said they had a flashlight in their homes, along with extra batteries (39%), first aid kits (39%), and soap, hand sanitizer, or disinfectant wipes (38%).
Still, there’s some work to be done, as many Americans are living without “essential items” on FEMA’s emergency preparedness checklist.
These include dust masks (15%), local maps (10%), and whistlers (8%), all considered must-have items on FEMA’s list.
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READY, PREP, GO!
Despite the differences in what items they would save, and what items they consider to be most valuable, an overwhelming number of respondents agree on several emergency to-do’s.
86% of Americans understand the importance of having an evacuation plan, while 81% prioritize having security products in their homes.
However, there is still some work to be done.
Only 36% of surveyed users admit to being the most prepared person they know, followed by their partner or spouse (14%), and parents (11%).
“Oftentimes, there is little to no time to prepare when disaster or an emergency strikes,” Gannon shared.
“Whether living in areas susceptible to natural disasters or looking to put an emergency plan in place, look to security and safety storage solutions such as safes, fire/water chests, and fire bags to protect your irreplaceable valuables,” he added.
