Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-7qhmt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-27T05:56:48.104Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Modelling Community Preparation for Natural Hazards: Understanding Hazard Cognitions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2012

David McIvor*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia. dpmcivor@utas.edu.au
Douglas Paton
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia.
David Johnston
Affiliation:
New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
*
*Address for correspondence: David McIvor, School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1342, Launceston TAS 7250, Australia.

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This article examines how personal beliefs about hazard events interact with social context factors to influence how individuals interpret their relationship with their environment, assign meaning to natural hazards and their consequences, and make preparedness decisions. Building on earlier work applying the same theoretical model to volcanic hazard preparedness, this article examines earthquake and flood hazard preparedness. The study incorporates both quantitative and qualitative approaches to elicit more detailed information regarding the influences underlying individuals' decisions to adopt preparation activities to minimise the effects of natural hazards. Findings indicate that preparedness decisions are not made in isolation. Through community level discourse and processes importance is attached to natural hazards and protective measures. It is only when natural hazards are perceived as having greater salience than other threats that people are motivated to prepare for their effects. A major finding is a distinction between trust and distrust of civic authorities. The data suggest that preparedness decisions were strongly influenced by the relevance people attached to information provided by these civic authorities. Delivering hazard mitigation strategies involves engaging with community members in order to understand their needs and to render meaningful assistance to their preparedness decisions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009