Disaster Perception Research Articles

Multimodal Social Sensing for the Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Assessment of Nature Disasters.

Social sensing, using humans as sensors to collect disaster data, has emerged as a timely, cost-effective, and reliable data source. However, research has focused on the textual data. With advances in information technology, multimodal data such as images and videos are now shared on media platforms, aiding in-depth analysis of social sensing systems. This study proposed an analytical framework to extract disaster-related spatiotemporal information from multimodal social media data. Using a pre-trained multimodal neural network and a location entity recognition model, the framework integrates disaster semantics with spatiotemporal information, enhancing situational awareness. A case study of the April 2024 heavy rain event in Guangdong, China, using Weibo data, demonstrates that multimodal content correlates more strongly with rainfall patterns than textual data alone, offering a dynamic perception of disasters. These findings confirm the utility of multimodal social media data and offer a foundation for future research. The proposed framework offers valuable applications for emergency response, disaster relief, risk assessment, and witness discovery, and presents a viable approach for safety risk monitoring and early warning systems.

Ego Resilience, Disaster Perception, and Disaster Preparedness of Nursing Students Inpace on Disaster Nursing Competency

Ego Resilience, Disaster Perception, and Disaster Preparedness of Nursing Students Inpace on Disaster Nursing Competency

Framework to Development of Disaster Mitigation Model in Mountain Tourism Destination

The geographic position of Indonesia provides both disaster threat and natural resources potential. Indonesia is an archipelagic country located between three major tectonic plates, namely Indo-Australia; Pacific; and Eurasia. Consequently, numerous of active volcanoes and faults are spread across the islands. Indonesia’s unique landforms are often utilized as a unique tourism spot. Along the mountain ranges of Bogor and Cianjur, Bandung, and Garut to Tasikmalaya, various volcanic tourism spots exist side-by-side with the threat of volcanic eruption, mass movements, and earthquake. Therefore, disaster mitigation had to be properly planned to guarantee the sustainability of businesses and investments, as well as for tourists’ safety. This research aims to develop the mitigation model for mountain tourism destinations in West Java Province. Three of currently developing mountain tourism spots are Gede-Pangrango Mountain, Tangkuban Parahu Mountain, and Guntur Mountain. Design of this research is R&D through the 4-D model, consists of Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate. Disaster mitigation model planning involves research subjects consisting of tourism destination management and local communities. Research instruments used include interviews and observations. The data obtained consists of information regarding disaster perceptions and severity measurements through observations. The developed mitigation model is subsequently validated by experts and research subjects to assess its suitability. The output of the development is a “Conceptual Model”, which is a participative mitigation strategy between tourism destination management and local communities. This conceptual mitigation model can be utilized by policymakers as a foundation for monitoring the spread of tourist destinations in facing natural disaster threats.

Land management and factors influencing agroforestry adoption on potato farmlands in the Dieng Plateau, Indonesia

Abstract. Pujiwinarko A, Soeprobowati TR, Kismartini. 2024. Land management and factors influencing agroforestry adoption on potato farmlands in the Dieng Plateau, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2623-2641. The Dieng area in Indonesia has long experienced agricultural land degradation, and intensive potato monoculture farming is one of the leading causes. Vegetative-based programs such as agroforestry have been implemented, but the level of adoption still needs to improve. This research aims to evaluate land management systems and analyze practices and the factors influencing agroforestry adoption of potato farming land in Dieng. We surveyed 260 potato farmers and interviewed 12 Key Informant Interviews (KII). Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression, descriptive statistics, and narrative approaches. Our research found changes in how potato farmers manage land regarding planting frequency and mulch use. The combination of potatoes and MPTS (Multi-Purpose Tree Species) is the plant composition most commonly found in agroforestry practices. Carrots (Daucus carota L.) are the vegetables that farmers most often plant when rotating potato crops. Mountain pine (Casuarina junghuhniana Miq.) and Carica (Carica pubescens (A.DC.) Lenne & K.Koch) are the species of trees and MPTS most commonly found in the fields of potato farmers who adopt agroforestry. Farmers maintain MPTS and trees on their land due to their suitability with main food crops and economic considerations. Several factors, including the species of energy source, use of mulch, frequency of potato planting, perception of disasters, farmer interest, prices, markets, the experience of vegetative activities, and government policy, significantly influence agroforestry adoption. Considering local agricultural systems, including the presence of principal crops and their management on the land, socio-economic and farmers' perspectives are essential to further increase agroforestry adoption in Dieng.

Investigation of Secondary School Students' Mental Structures Regarding the Concept of Natural Disaster through Drawings

This study aims to reveal secondary school students' perceptions of natural disasters through drawing. The study was conducted in the second semester of the 2022-2023 academic year. A total of 100 students, 50 fifth and 50 eighth-grade students, participated in the study. The data of the study, carried out using the phenomenology design from the qualitative research approach, were collected through the "Natural Disaster Drawing Form". During the study, the students participating in the study were asked to draw a picture of natural disasters and then answer two open-ended questions in the last part of the form. When the data obtained from the study were analyzed, it was seen that the students included natural disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, floods, landslides, tsunamis, and erosions in their drawings. In addition, it was determined that students in both grade levels made drawings mostly about earthquakes, and the natural disaster they found most important was earthquakes. It was understood that the current natural disasters experienced in Türkiye were very effective in shaping the mental structures of the students. In addition, it was determined that there was no difference in students' drawings according to gender.

Understanding the Impacts of COVID-19 and Other Disaster Experiences on Motivations to Prepare for Future Disasters

Abstract Social workers are recognising the increasing frequency and severity of disasters within the context of climate change, and are concerned with supporting communities in preparing, coping and building resilience. Although social workers have had positive impacts on disaster relief and recovery throughout the world, they have been less influential in impacting communities’ and individuals’ abilities to prepare for future disasters, which requires addressing the structural causes and impacts of disasters. While concerned with macro-level and neoliberal causes and dimensions of disasters, the focus of this research is on micro-level perspectives. Our study investigates whether past experiences of pandemics, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), along with other disasters, translate into motivation to prepare for future disasters. We derived the sample from the 2021 US National Household Survey and analysed it using logistic regression analysis. Findings suggest that certain disaster experiences, such as COVID-19 and technological disasters, along with heightened risk perceptions of pandemics and natural disasters, increased people’s motivation for disaster preparedness. Such motivation is influenced by sociodemographic characteristics, including race/ethnicity and disability. Using a transformative social work practice lens to articulate implications for social workers, we emphasise addressing root causes of disasters, community-level change work and whole-person, intersectional support and interventions.

Integrating Law in Flood Management in India: A Case Study of Flood Awareness and Risk Perception in Mumbai

Globally, floods are increasing in frequency and velocity. The position in India is no different with floods emerging as a complex, recurring problem leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. Although floods cannot be completely eliminated solely through law, law can be an important tool to mitigate its consequences and reduce its risks. Using a mixed doctrinal and non-doctrinal methodology, this study investigates the efficacy of the legal, policy and institutional mechanism on flood management in India. Moreover, with the recent thrust on disaster risk management and reduction, risk perception of natural disasters of the public at large is also emerging as a vital component of the disaster management process. In the present research, a case study of flood risk perception in Mumbai has been undertaken wherein participants from Greater Mumbai and Mumbai suburban districts participated in a survey on their awareness and perception of floods and related risks. The research findings indicate that while majority have experienced floods, have awareness on its causes and dangers, they do not know about challenges in terms of the efficacy of law. It is argued that as continuous neglect of community is likely to be catastrophic, a robust legal framework ought to be built that secures Government-community partnership for effective flood management.

Evaluation of Disaster Perception Levels of University Students: A Sample Application Study

Disasters are important events that are difficult to predict and occur in various ways, often with high destructive power. Earthquakes, floods, droughts, major industrial accidents, famine, technological accidents, epidemics, etc. are only a few of the major types of disas-ters that mankind has been exposed to from past to present. In recent years, natural and unnatural disaster events have been observed both in Turkey (Düzce-earthquake, 1999; Giresun-Dereli-flood-flood, 2020; Kahramanmaraş-Pazarcık-earthquake, 2023) and in many other parts of the world (Sumatra-tsunami, 2004; Ecuador-earthquake, 2016; USA-hurricane-storm, 2023). The impact of disasters is often not limited to one region but can spread over a wide area. As a matter of fact, the impact of this destruction can be reduced at some point thanks to various measures that can be taken before the disaster. For exam-ple, identification of regional risks, early warning systems, crisis management, emergency action plans, etc. can be considered within the scope of these measures. Another important issue is to increase the level of disaster awareness of the society. Especially in regions where disaster risk maps have been prepared, such awareness raising activities can be carried out to make the reaction of the society against disasters more controlled and conscious. The aforementioned issues constitute the main objective of this study. This study was conducted to evaluate the disaster awareness levels of Gümüşhane Univer-sity central campus students. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using SPPS 25 statistical program. In the study, a 5-point Likert scale was used to measure disaster risk perception. In the study, frequency analysis test, Kruskal Wallis test and Mann Whitney U test were performed. As a result of the analysis, it was analyzed at 5% level of significance (p<0.05) and it is stated in the tables as arithmetic mean, standard deviation and percent-age of the number of individuals. Accordingly, as a result of the non-parametric Mann Whitney-U test, no significant difference was found between the groups. As a result of the non-parametric Mann Whitney-U test conducted to determine whether the disaster risk perception sub-dimension scores of the students differed significantly according to the gender variable, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups at the p<0.05 level in favor of the group exposed to disaster.

Rains, Tragedies and Media Coverage: Analysis of Floods In Rio Grande do Sul

Objective: The objective of this study is to present how the tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul is handled by the media, in order to observe whether it is being related to climate change. Theoretical Framework: Environmental disasters have been intensifying with the great advances of human actions, which cause climate change and journalistic structures play a crucial role in shaping the public perception of natural disasters, framing them in the context of climate change. Method: From the use of text mining techniques in reports published in Brazilian news portals about the floods in Rio Grande do Sul, a corpus of 100 texts from Google News was selected, being processed through the Voyant Tools software for extraction and analysis of textual data. Results and Discussion: Media coverage of the tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul highlighted the social consequences and the impact on urban centers. The news simplifies the understanding of the causes of the tragedy, focusing mainly on heavy rains and neglecting factors such as global warming and El Niño. In addition, socioeconomic influences that amplify flood risks, such as poor infrastructure and housing conditions, were neglected in the discussions. The media also emphasized the importance of understanding the interaction between climate and geography to formulate strategies that minimize the effects of flooding and promote the sustainable development of the affected regions. Research Implications: By revealing how climate change narratives are being integrated into coverage of natural disasters, this study helps to understand the role of the media in educating the public and influencing public perception of the need for climate mitigation and adaptation policies. Originality/Value: This study examines how the Brazilian media approaches flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, highlighting the social consequences and the importance of understanding the interaction between climate and geography. Using text mining techniques to analyze a corpus of news stories, the research offers a succinct and objective analysis of media coverage, contributing to an understanding of communication about extreme weather events.

The Effect of Disaster Training on Teachers Candidates' Perception of Disaster Awareness

Turkiye frequently experiences disasters that negatively affect human life in terms of various aspects. Therefore, teacher candidates who will teach future generations should be educated about raising disaster awareness. In this study, the effect of the disaster awareness training given by AFAD on the disaster perceptions, and awareness levels of teacher candidates were studied. In the research convenience sampling method was adopted. 58 teacher candidates, 44 females and 14 males, participated in the study which was designed in the “Single Group Pre-Test - Post-Test” model. Teacher candidates took disaster training for 12 hours in two courses. After the training, there was a partial increase in disaster awareness levels. However, the results showed that having received disaster training before or having experienced a disaster did not make a significant difference in disaster awareness. A disaster education course, including practice, can be integrated into undergraduate programs of education faculties.

Factors influencing farmers’ adaptation willingness under landslide risks: Using an extended sustainable livelihood framework

Landslides are one of the common natural disasters that seriously threaten smallholder farmers' livelihoods. Several adaptation measures for reducing the impact of disaster shocks are available; however, the effects of these measures highly rely on farmers' adoption and implementation. Therefore, this study explores the key factors influencing farmers' willingness to adopt agricultural (drip irrigation, drought-tolerant crops) and non-agricultural measures (income diversification, migration) under landslide risk, based on 350 random sample questionnaires in Heifangtai, Northwest China, where irrigation-induced landslides are frequent. This study incorporates disaster perception into the livelihood capital of the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) and uses the boosted regression tree to reveal the relationships between extended livelihood capitals and farmers' willingness to take adaptation measures. The results show that social capital and disaster perception positively affect farmers' willingness to adopt adaptation measures. Disaster perception can rapidly increase farmers' willingness to adopt adaptation measures when they have adequate perception. The impact of natural capital shows a particular “n” shaped trend of facilitation followed by inhibition, which ultimately had distinct impacts on farmers' willingness to adopt agricultural and non-agricultural adaptation measures. In addition, farmers' willingness to adopt migration is mainly dominated by disaster perception and limited by financial capital. Based on the results, this study provides policy recommendations from the perspectives of social organization management, disaster knowledge popularization, and financial support to increase the local farmers’ willingness to adapt.

9·11과 3·11, 혹은 문학의 그라운드 제로(ground zero)에서

In this article, the term “disaster literature” is narrowly defined: works submitted in response to actual historical disasters. Disaster literature will reflect the factual aspects of real disasters, and of particular importance will be the patterns of human behavior in times of disaster, rather than the disaster itself. This can be divided into social solidarity and social conflict. Disaster literature is a dual response to this. It joins or creates social solidarity and intervenes in social conflict to dismantle its basis. The first type can be called ‘healing narratives’. It verbalizes the suffering of the victims, gives it a figure and allows it to exist in the public sphere. The role of the healing narrative is to mediate social solidarity. The second type of narrative can be called ‘counter-narrative’. When a particular perception/narrative of disaster takes the place of the dominant narrative and triggers social conflict, disaster literature as a counter-narrative participates in the social narrative struggle by offering a different way of thinking about disaster (alternative disaster perception). This paper examines works that fulfil their roles as healing narratives and counter-narratives by taking the September 11 attacks and the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami as symbolic cases of social and natural disasters in the 21st century. In doing so, we will test the effectiveness of the concepts presented in this paper and lay the groundwork for the development of a theory of disaster literature.

코로나19 시기 청소년이 지각한 재난안전에 대한 응답양식 분석

The purpose of this study was to analyze the survey data on the perception of disaster safety by adolescents during the COVID-19 period, using the data from the 2020 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). As a large social disaster, COVID-19 could affect the adolescents' responses in addition to their perceptions of disasters. Therefore, we applied the item response tree model to analyze the response patterns. The results showed that adolescents generally felt safe from disasters such as COVID-19, but their perceptions of disaster safety differed between safety of individuals and that of society. In addition, it was confirmed that there were negative extreme response styles and positive extreme response styles, which represent excessive anxiety and excessive indifference to disasters, respectively. Moreover, the adolescents' perceptions of disaster safety were related to life satisfaction, happiness, and the degree of knowledge of disaster response measures. We also proposed the utilization and follow-up studies of the research results.

Changing climates, compounding challenges: a participatory study on how disasters affect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people in Fiji

Pacific youth are at the forefront of the climate crisis, which has important implications for their health and rights. Youth in Fiji currently bear a disproportionate burden of poor experiences...

Power Relations in 2023 Merapi Eruption Management

Local wisdom plays a crucial role in disaster mitigation, as exemplified during the 2023 eruption of Mount Merapi. Amid the eruption, societal myths circulated, asserting that Merapi erupted to conceal mining-induced holes. The statement was made by the Sultan of Yogyakarta Special District (Sultan DIY) during an interview with the media. It then receives responses and pros and cons from the community, then forms a community perspective. Researchers analyzed data from a Jogja TV interview with the Sultan, using semiotic analysis and Foucault's power relations theory. The findings reveal that there is discourse and knowledge that portrays Merapi's eruption as a corrective response to mining damage. This narrative gained societal acceptance, highlighting the influential role of local authorities in shaping disaster perceptions. However, the discourse also raises the counterpoint of disagreement.

Middle-class risk perception of disasters and land reclamation in Metro Manila, Philippines

The United Nations estimate that by 2030 about half of the world’s population would be comprised of the middle-class, who mostly live in the increasing number of megacities around the world. Southeast Asian megacities, such as Metropolitan Manila, have long been troubled by rapid urbanization, increasing disaster risk, and the looming impacts of climate change. As a response, there is a growing focus on disaster and climate resilient policies in megacities, most of which have only centered on how future disasters and climate uncertainty would impact vulnerable communities. This has resulted in policies that cater towards relocation of the poor to combat disasters and climate change. This exploratory study attempts to elucidate how the middle-class views disasters and land reclamation in Metro Manila, the Philippines. Using an online questionnaire survey of 425 middle-class respondents, the study shows that middle-class perception of risk potentially amplifies vulnerability and reduces the resilience of the poor. While knowledge about the risks is high, the capacity of the middle class to act is low, especially compared to vulnerable communities. Also, climate change and disasters are viewed primarily as environmental issues, which is compounded by inadequate defenses. Land reclamation, along with coastal informal settlements, are viewed as an intrusion into the environment. This study finds that the middle-class’s perception of risk may marginalize the poor by favoring eviction of vulnerable communities in coastal areas, including those targeted for land reclamation, under the pretext of controlling the city’s population growth and environmental impact.

Catastrophe Televised: Accelerated Time, Telescoped Events, Distorted Perceptions

Catastrophe Televised: Accelerated Time, Telescoped Events, Distorted Perceptions

Modeling farmers’ intention to water protection behavior: A new extended version of the protection motivation theory

Drought is a recurring phenomenon that occurs as a result of climate change. In addition, drought is a major challenge for population groups whose livelihoods depend mainly on natural resources such as water. While there is increasing pressure on farmers to conserve water, the factors influencing water conservation behavior are still poorly understood. The main purpose of this study was to fill this gap based on an expanded version of protection motivation theory (EXP-PMT) with perception as an additional construct in the original PMT model. PMT theory is often used to explain risk reduction behaviors or the intention to perform protective behaviors. Also, farmers' perceptions of natural disasters and whether the drought is real and whether they should take action influences their behavior. The study population consisted of farmers from the Mousian Plain in Ilam Province, Iran. Based on the sample table by Krejcie and Morgan (1970), 285 farmers were selected using the multi-stage stratified random sampling method. The data were analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) multivariate technique of Smart-PLS version 3.2.7. Partial least squares path model (PLS) analysis showed that response efficacy, self-efficacy, and farmers’ drought perceptions were significantly correlated with water protection behavior (WPB).The results of this study can be used to inform farmers about water conservation behavior. In addition, the results inform policymakers about what farmers consider important. So that more performance interventions can be performed.

Social Construction of Religious Attitude towards Disaster among Victims of Natural Disasters in Palu and Lombok

Every religion has teachings related to the best ways to cope with problems, including those caused by natural disasters. Thus, natural disasters can reshape the construction of religious attitudes among the community. Therefore, this research aims to understand how natural disasters are perceived by religious leaders in the aftermath of earthquakes in Palu and Lombok and how these perceptions impact the community's views on ideal religious attitudes after a disaster.
 This research employs a phenomenological approach with thematic data analysis techniques applied to research data collected through interviews with various religious leaders and community members in Lombok Island and Palu City, two regions that experienced natural disaster events in 2018.
 The research findings suggest that, despite the resurgence of a back-to-nature sentiment following the disasters in Lombok, for the Wetu Telu Muslim community, this sentiment carries a deeper meaning than merely promoting an environmentally conscious way of life. It signifies a return to a way of life rooted in traditions passed down through generations, a way of life that has been eroded by the modernization brought about by the proselytizing efforts of the majority Muslim group over the past five decades. In Palu City, the earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2018 has also shaped the community's perception of disasters and influenced their religious behaviors in the post-disaster society. In general, three common perspectives were identified. First, a majority believes the disaster is a form of divine admonition from Allah due to various deviant behaviors in the society. Second, some believe the disaster is a result of the shifting of the Palu-Koro fault plates, an unavoidable natural event, grounded in empirical knowledge sources and disaster facts. Third, Muslim groups view the disaster as a test from Allah. These three perspectives have essentially shaped a unique religious attitude among the community expressed in various forms of religiosity.

Exploring fundamental motives of tourists visiting dark tourism sites

ABSTRACT Evolutionary psychology offers new potential to understand the motivation of tourists visiting dark sites. This study first identified four fundamental motives (kin care, exploration, affiliation, and status) related to dark tourism contexts, and then examined their relationships with proximal motives and disaster perception. Results found that fundamental motives positively affected corresponding proximate motives and mediated the relationships between disaster perception and proximate motives, and gender and prior experience had moderating effects. This study contributes to better understanding the fundamental psychological mechanisms of tourists visiting dark sites and has some practical implications for these sites' marketing and management.