How California's Disaster Preparedness Compares To Other States

MALIBU, CA – As far as natural disasters go, California doesn't really have to worry about tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, and blizzards. But the Golden State does have its fair share of mudslides, drought, wildfires and earthquakes.

Shockingly, the majority of Americans are unprepared or underprepared for a natural disaster, according to a recent report from Gold Eagle. Using data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), local governments, the National Guard, and the American Association of Civil Engineers, the blog ranked each state on their disaster preparedness, from most prepared (#1) to least prepared (#50).

The states were ranked based on four factors: number of disasters, funding, response, and infrastructure. Overall, California ranked #12 in disaster preparedness. Gold Eagle rounded up the top five states most at risk of specific natural disasters, and California ranked #2 for flooding and #1 for fires – ouch.

Security Magazine agrees with the findings. Only three in ten Americans have an emergency preparedness kit, 42 percent say they're not at all prepared for a disaster, and 46 percent say they're only "a little" prepared, according to the magazine. (For more California news, sign up for real-time news alerts and free morning newsletters from your local California Patch . If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

To top it off, out of the five counties nationwide with the most disasters historically, three are in California. They are: Los Angeles County (57 disasters), San Bernardino County (48) and Riverside County (47).

The 10 most prepared states are:

1. Iowa
2. Washington
3. Oregon
4. West Virginia
5. Illinois
6. Oklahoma
7. Colorado
8. Wyoming
9. Vermont
10. Delaware

The 10 least prepared states are:

1. Texas
2. Louisiana
3. Kentucky
4. Nebraska
5. Tennessee
6. Minnesota
7. Missouri
8. Mississippi
9. Kansas
10. Virginia

While natural disasters are unavoidable, it's important to be prepared – within the government, and at home – and expect the unexpected when it comes to severe weather. Check out the California Summer Safety Guide for tips on how to stay safe throughout the season, and FEMA's "Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide To Citizen Preparedness" for emergency education information.

Californians can also download the Cal Fire app, which includes a wildfire preparation checklist, customizable wildfire texts or push notifications, a fire map, video library and more to stay informed on the latest wildfire information. To read more about the study and see how other states ranked, visit Gold Eagle.

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