Reasons for non-compliance with cyclone evacuation orders in Bangladesh

Abstract

Despite significant improvement in cyclone early warning systems and emergency evacuation procedures in Bangladesh, a considerable number of potential victims do not evacuate. This paper, based on secondary published sources and administrative data, explores evacuation behavior during cyclones in Bangladesh and why people do not evacuate (move to cyclone shelters or safer places) despite early warnings and emergency evacuation orders. This paper argues that the reasons for non-compliance with cyclone evacuation orders in Bangladesh fall into four broad categories: reasons associated with public cyclone shelters; the nature of the risk communication employed in constructing the warning itself; socio-demographic and economic aspects; and non-evacuees' perceptions and attitudes. This paper claims that the existence of a cyclone warning system and the dissemination of warnings to the potential victims alone do not guarantee people's compliance with both the warning and the following evacuation orders. Therefore, this paper argues that reasons for non-compliance need to be addressed with the utmost priority to ensure appropriate responses to the warning and the subsequent evacuation orders by the potential victims.