Factors associated with increased preparedness for future bushfires after exposure to a severe bushfire in Australia

When recurrent hazards are exacerbated by climate change, the recovery process from one hazard is closely linked to the preparedness for subsequent events. This study investigated associations of long-term bushfire preparedness after previous bushfire exposure, focusing on the Protective Action Decision Model and considering mental health as an additional explanatory variable. Participants included a sample from the Beyond Bushfire study which was conducted 3-4 years after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Analyses were conducted on 1010 residents of Australian communities who were affected to varying degrees by the bushfires. Associated variables of increased bushfire preparedness were investigated using multivariate regression analyses and included sociodemographic variables, risk perception of future bushfires, evaluation of personal choices during the bushfires, severity of exposure, community connectedness, exposure to subsequent hazards, and mental health. Risk perception was positively associated with increased preparedness, while sense of control over choices, comfort over choices made during the bushfires, and depression symptoms were associated with reduced odds of bushfire preparedness engagement. The findings suggest that personal accounts of previous bushfires may be more related to preparedness behaviours than objective disaster consequences. This finding points to the potential benefit of integrating mental health considerations into disaster preparedness and response policies. However, the model explained only 3.8% of the differences in preparedness, highlighting the complexity of protective action prediction. More longitudinal research is necessary to improve our understanding of mental health influences. • Factors associated with preparedness increase were assessed in bushfire survivors. • Significant associations include risk perception and personal choice evaluation. • Depression symptoms influenced bushfire preparedness actions significantly. • Prior lived experiences related more to preparedness than objective consequences.