The seismic risk perception of emergency managers and first responders– a public survey in Greece

Abstract

Understanding the seismic risk perceptions of emergency managers and first responders is fundamental to entrusting pre-disaster policy-making and emergency communication practices. Therefore, an online survey in Greece was conducted to assess the impact of knowledge, worry, experience, and other variables on seismic risk perceptions and to reveal emergency managers’ and first responders’ opinions on the overall emergency mechanism. The results reveal that, while seismic risk perception is high, important knowledge gaps are detected among members of the emergency and crisis management mechanisms. Poor coordination issues, ambiguity in responsibilities, the content of emergency seismic information (beyond uncertainty), and the need to improve prompt warning methods and modernised communication practices are indicated.