Natural disaster literacy in Iran: Survey-based evidence from Tehran

Abstract

Based on a survey of 502 participants conducted in 2020/2021, this study investigates the state of natural disaster literacy in the Iranian capital of Tehran, which is one of the main metropolitan areas of the country. The results of the empirical investigation using logistic regressions suggest that household income level, trust in Iran's natural disaster management, fear of natural disasters, perceived frequency of natural disasters, and internet usage show positive associations with natural disaster literacy. Additionally, a natural disaster literacy index (DLI) for Tehran City is created, ranging from 0 to 100, using 14 natural disaster literacy indicators. Ordinary least squares (OLS) estimations with the final index provide additional evidence of previous findings. When comparing the average DLI scores of the northern and southern phone districts, spatial inequality within Tehran City becomes visible, where the northern subsample has significantly higher DLI scores than the southern subsample. The conclusion highlights the limited impact of natural disaster experience and formal education on natural disaster literacy, emphasizing the effectiveness of specialized disaster training programs especially targeted at low-income households. Moreover, increasing trust between citizens and the organizations responsible for natural disaster management and educating citizens about the possible risks and frequency of natural disasters in the region help to motivate citizens to be better prepared.