Perception Of Natural Hazards Research Articles

“Industryimpactsmorethannature” - Risk perception of natural hazards in more-than-human worlds

Understanding the risk perceptions of natural hazards is vital for disaster mitigation. Despite extensive research on the topic, local and indigenous perspectives often remain marginalized and underrepresented. One reason discussed is the inherent Eurocentrism in knowledge production. Using narrative interviews with fishermen in the Patagonian fjord lands, we developed a grounded theory on risk perception against the background of actor–network theory to adress this criticism.The emergent order of risk perception research can be described by constructions of natural event systems, attributions of cause and blame, psychological processing and emotional strategies, territorial and professional identity, and perceptions of the national state. The distinction in risk science between natural hazards and environmental degradation, which represents the manifestation of the nature-culture divide, is not necessarily made by people.By allowing ambiguity in the ontology of nature, including networks of human and non-human actors,a hybrid understanding can be developed. We propose the following basic concepts of this understanding: environmental transformation, human-environment relations, appropriation of nature and ownership structure, displacement of sustainable traditions, and regional common-pool resources. Classifying these perspectives as pre-modern corresponds to the separation of different cultures described by Latour and forms the basis for asymmetrical relationships, reproducing the hegemony of Eurocentric and anthropocentric knowledge production. The separation into hazard and vulnerability can be seen as a manifestation of the second separation and leads to the networks of human and non-human actors that promote resilience being overlooked.

Risk tolerance as a complementary concept to risk perception of natural hazards: A conceptual review and application.

There is a longstanding assumption that if people perceive a risk as high, they will act to reduce it. In fact, research has shown a lack of consistently strong causal relations between risk perception (RP) and mitigative behavior-the so-called "risk perception paradox." Despite a recent increase in research on RP, individuals' risk tolerance (RT; or demand for risk reduction) only rarely appears as a consideration for explaining behavioral response to natural hazards. To address this research gap, we first systematically review relevant literature and find that RT has been directly assessed or operationalized using perceived thresholds related to costs and benefits of risk reduction measures, risk consequences, hazard characteristics, behavioral responses, or affective reactions. It is either considered a component or a result of RP. We then use survey data of individuals' RP, RT, and behavioral intention to assess relations among these variables. Comparing across three European study sites, "behavioral intention" is assessed as the public's willingness to actively support the implementation of nature-based solutions to reduce disaster risk. A series of tests using regression models shows RT significantly explains variance in behavioral intention and significantly contributes additional explanatory power beyond RP in all three sites. In two sites, RT is also a significant partial mediator of the relation between RP and behavior. Taken together, our findings demand further conceptual and empirical research on individuals' RT and its systematic consideration as a determinant for (in)action in response to natural hazards.

Risky Travel? Subjective vs. Objective Perceived Risks in Travel Behaviour—Influence of Hydro-Meteorological Hazards in South-Eastern Europe on Serbian Tourists

In terms of climate related security risks, the region of South-Eastern Europe (SEE) can be identified as one of the world’s hot spots. As weather-related hazards continue to increase in numbers and spatial distribution, risk perception in the tourism industry becomes even more important. Additionally, people’s perception of natural hazards is one of the key elements in their decision-making process when choosing a travel destination. Although a vast number of studies have examined aspects of risk perception, an integrated approach which considers both objective and subjective factors related to the tourism industry and hydro-meteorological hazards remains relatively scarce. This pioneering study inspects the causality between objective perceived risks, as well as subjective risk factors. A methodological approach and the obtained results present a certain novelty since the previous conceptualized Psychological Preparedness for Disaster Threat Scale (PPDTS) was applied for the first time in the tourism industry. The obtained results reveal the presence of a statistically significant relationship between objective risks and certain subjective risk factors (gender, age, education, prior experience, anticipation, and awareness). Therefore, this study may offer a conceptual platform for both theoretical and practical implications for enhanced approaches oriented toward more qualitative risk management at a given travel destination, in regions prone to hydro-meteorological hazards.

Tourists’ behavior for volcanic disaster risk reduction: A case study of Mount Aso in Japan

Despite preceding research on the general public's knowledge and perceptions of natural hazards, there remains a lack of information specifically on volcanoes in Japan. This study seeks to determine whether people who had visited Mount Aso—one of the active volcanoes in Japan—had taken any self-protective measures. We asked people who visited the area around the crater of Mount Aso about their thoughts and actions related to volcanic disaster risk reduction. Internet-based questionnaires were disseminated nationally via the Rakuten Research, Inc. platform. The total sample size was 400. The logistic regression analysis shows that on-site information provided near the craters—such as knowledge of past damage, bulletin boards, and broadcasts—had a relatively greater impact on safety-seeking actions than prior checking of websites and the Volcanic Alert Level by tourists. Based on our findings, future evidence-based policies regarding volcanic disaster risk reduction should emphasize on-site efforts together with wide dissemination of publicly available information, including the Volcanic Alert Level.

Community Perceptions of Tree Risk and Management

Urban forests (trees growing in urban and peri-urban areas, including villages and large cities) are vital to mitigating the effects of climate change and urbanization but require special considerations such as risk mitigation in developed landscapes. Despite abundant research on risk perceptions of natural hazards, there is limited knowledge about risk perceptions associated with urban trees. As such, this research examines community perceptions of urban tree risk mitigation with a focus on four cities in the U.S. south. To better understand risk perceptions and mitigation, this study employs key informant interviews with community members. Guided by a socio-ecological resilience framework, the findings identify factors affecting resident attitudes towards tree management on the individual parcel and the community levels. The findings benefit tree risk governance in the face of climate variability, which increases societal and environmental vulnerability in urban settings.

Preparedness behaviors for natural hazards and their association with experiences, perceptions, and social engagement in Taiwanese society

ABSTRACT This study examined how individuals’ past experiences and perceptions of natural hazards, as well as their participation in voluntary organizations, were associated with their hazard preparedness. The study first explored how individuals’ past experiences of three types of natural hazards (floods, landslides, and earthquakes), and their perceptions of hazard risk and controllability, were associated with their participation in voluntary organizations – an important indicator of social capital. This study also investigated how individuals’ experiences and perceptions of natural hazards, and their participation in voluntary organizations, were associated with their adoption of preparedness behaviors for future hazards. The results of this study indicated that residents who experienced a natural hazard in the past generally reported better preparedness behaviors although the results differed according to the type of natural hazard. Both perceived risk and perceived controllability were positively associated with preparedness behavior, but perceived controllability was more strongly associated with participation in voluntary organizations.

The Perception of Flood Risks: A Case Study of Babessi in Rural Cameroon

Although risk perception of natural hazards has been identified as an important determinant for sound policy design, there is limited empirical research on it in developing countries. This article narrows the empirical literature gap. It draws from Babessi, a rural town in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Babessi was hit by a severe flash flood in 2012. The cross-disciplinary lens applied here deciphers the complexity arising from flood hazards, often embedded in contexts characterized by poverty, a state that is constrained in disaster relief, and market-based solutions being absent. Primary data were collected via snowball sampling. Multinomial logistic regression analysis suggests that individuals with leadership functions, for example, heads of households, perceive flood risk higher, probably due to their role as household providers. We found that risk perception is linked to location, which in turn is associated with religious affiliation. Christians perceive floods riskier than Muslims because the former traditionally reside at the foot of hills and the latter uphill; rendering Muslims less exposed and eventually less affected by floods. Finally, public disaster relief appears to have built up trust and subsequently reduced risk perception, even if some victims remained skeptical of state disaster relief. This indicates strong potential benefits of public transfers for flood risk management in developing countries.

Individual cognitive style affects flood‐risk perception and mitigation intentions

AbstractRisk perception of natural hazards has been widely studied as one of the potential determinants of people's behaviors and behavioral intentions. However, individual differences can also affect risk perception. The present work focused on the link between an individual cognitive mindset (i.e., level of holism) and flood‐risk perception. It also assessed the consequences of such a link on public and personal mitigation intentions, taking into account the sense of connection with the environment, the psychological distance from the adverse event, and the role played by previous personal experience with flooding. Our study (N = 191) showed that the individual cognitive style predicted risk perceptions and personal (for both experienced and no‐experience groups) and public (only for experienced group) mitigation intentions, through the mediation of the sense of connection with the environment and the psychological distance from the adverse event. Results are discussed in terms of their practical implications for public communication and policies about environmental hazards.

Understanding the Relationship Between Direct Experience and Risk Perception of Natural Hazards.

Risk perception has been largely examined in studies that have aimed to explain and predict preparedness behavior in the context of natural hazards. Findings from studies on the relationship between previous experience, preparedness, and risk perception in disaster situations have been inconsistent. Hence, the main goal of this work was to explore the influence of physical and emotional experience on risk perception regarding natural hazards. This study was conducted in a statistically representative sample of the city of Iquique, in northern Chile (n = 701), who completed a survey one month after the occurrence of an earthquake and tsunami (8.2 Mw). The survey assessed the experience and preparation actions of survivors in relation to this event. Using a structural equation model, we examined nine proposed relationships, six of which were significant. The final model had an adequate fit (χ² = 752.23, df = 283, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.90, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.049). Direct experience showed the greatest influence on risk perception: while direct physical experience (i.e., the physical and material consequences associated with the earthquake) maintained a direct positive effect on risk perception, direct emotional experience (i.e., the fear of experiencing an earthquake) produced an indirect positive effect (through worry). Emotional experience, however, did not directly influence current preparedness and risk perception. Implications for understanding the relationship between risk perception and direct experience are discussed.

Perception of Natural Hazards in Rural Areas: A Case Study Examination of the Influence of Seasonal Weather

A series of factors affect the social perception of hazards in a rural context. This article analyzes how weather conditions influence farmers’ perceptions of natural hazards. In order to understand the relationship between time of year/season and farmers’ concerns about hazards, this study was undertaken. The methodology was based on surveys done to obtain a base-collection of primary data, as well as a meteorological and production analysis using secondary data. A case study of small coffee farms was carried out in a Brazilian municipality with questionnaires applied during the dry season in 2016 and the rainy season in 2017. The results indicate that drought is the main hazard identified by farmers in both weather seasons. Although there were some changes in perceptions observed, the ranking order of the main hazards did not change over the dry and rainy weather seasons.

Flood hazards and perceptions – A comparative study of two cities in Alabama

How does physical history of flood-related hazards affect individuals’ perceptions? The present study represents a unique effort to understand perceptions of flood hazards in light of the geographic background. Situated in Alabama, the United States, the cities of Mobile and Huntsville display two different physical geographic contexts. Despite one being a coastal city (Mobile) and the other being an inland city, both are similarly vulnerable to flooding. We first present results of historical analyses of heavy precipitation in both cities and analysis of storm surge history in the city of Mobile. We then report results of both descriptive statistical and inferential statistical analyses based on a two-city residents’ survey that was conducted in the spring of 2016. We find that residents in both cities are able to connect the particular natural hazard of flooding with their physical environments. Residents in both cities are influenced by their perceptions of precipitation when making assessments of flooding. Despite the fact that Huntsville has not experienced heavy precipitation events as much as Mobile in recent history, residents of Huntsville tend to link heavy rainfall – the most frequent cause of flooding in that city, with flooding. In contrast, residents of Mobile tend to link hurricanes, more particularly hurricane number, with flooding. These results show that people are attuned to their physical environments and take into consideration their personal observations when forming perceptions of natural hazards. More studies need to be conducted to further investigate the dynamics of physical exposure to hazards and risk perceptions in other geographic areas.

The Difficult Path from Perception to Precautionary Action\u2014Participatory Modeling as a Practical Tool to Overcome the Risk Perception Paradox in Flood Preparedness

The risk perception paradox illustrates the perception of natural hazards as not directly related to a willingness to act or engage in precautionary behavior. Yet the utilization of participatory processes can help to overcome this gap. In a practical example in the watershed of the Danube River and its contributing streams in Germany, we aimed to solve questions about the value of participatory modeling as a method to bridge the gap linked to flood polder planning and a relocation of a dike for protection against high floods (centennial floods and rarer). Local communities, citizen initiatives, and nongovernmental environmental organizations joined together for round table discussions initiated by the water management authorities. A participatory modeling process enabled these diverse stakeholders to engage with the experts who built the groundwater models for the planning process. As part of this study, two case studies are presented. In the first example, neutral mediators assisted the round table “Flood Polder Katzau (Danube)” in order to cultivate mutual trust and understanding between the authorities and the former opponents of the project. This process is still ongoing, challenged by long-term planning and the more immediate obstacle of current political changes. The second case study is located on the river Alz, a tributary of the river Inn, which flows into the Danube, where the relocation of a dike was planned. This article demonstrates how participatory modeling contributes to bridging the gap between a local resident’s risk perception and real action in the case of flood preparedness.

Experiences and perceptions of natural hazards among international migrants living in Valparaiso, Chile

International migrants are a socially vulnerable group within the context of disasters. However, disasters research focusing on this group is limited. This problem is the primary focus of the present study. AimTo explore responses, behaviors and experiences concerning natural hazards among migrants living in Valparaíso, Chile. MethodsFollowing a constructivist paradigm, we conducted a case study. We interviewed twenty migrants. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study was peer-reviewed by Universidad del Desarrollo Ethics Committee. ResultsParticipants described intense emotional reactions when facing disasters that reduced their coping ability. Their limited knowledge about natural hazards and how to react, explains in part their responses and the difficulties they face. Participants compared their reactions with the behaviors exhibited by the local Chilean population who displayed very little fear and seemed to be used to these events. Finally, despite sharing the same native language, Spanish, preparation activities and warnings appear not to be reaching them. ConclusionsThere is an urgent need to implement culturally sensitive preparation strategies, through migrants' existing social networks, to address their needs and concerns and to enable them to cope with natural hazards. Emotional reactions appear to play an essential role in their response to natural disasters and should also be recognized and validated.

Local Resilience to Natural Hazards in Serbia. Case Study: The West Morava River Valley

During the past decade, the valley of the West Morava in the central part of the Republic of Serbia experienced several natural hazards that have changed the life of the inhabitants. The aim of this paper is to show how people perceive natural hazards in the areas where they do not have catastrophic consequences for the entire population. The perceptions of natural hazards were examined according to similar studies and collected through surveys and interviews. The obtained stratified sample information was coded, and the results are expressed in the parameters of descriptive statistics, using T-test and ANOVA. The population is partially affected if inhabited locations are in the threatened part of the West Morava River valley and if their activities have direct consequences by natural disasters. They emphasize the importance of the political influences and mass media, but they show the need for additional information on prevention and protection. That is where they see geography as profession that sublimates all knowledge of natural disasters, unlike others that are more narrowly skilled. The results of the research are the starting point for further regional comparisons, which will complement the picture of the people’s attitude and resilience to natural hazards in Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula.

Community Perception on Adverse Effects of Natural Hazards on Livelihood and Enhancing Livelihood Resiliency: A Case Study at Patharghata Upazila, Barguna

Due to the geographical location, coastal regions of Bangladesh suffer from frequent natural hazards as a consequence of rapid change in climate. Patharghata Upazila under Barguna District is one of the most vulnerable coastal area in Bangladesh. Living with natural hazards is an everyday issue for the people of Patharghata because changing season brings different kinds of unpredictable hazards on livelihood. The study reveals the community perception of natural hazards and its adverse effect on livelihood. The natural hazards such as flood, cyclone, storm surge, salinity intrusion, excessive fog, temperature changing, river bank erosion, heavy rainfall, late rainy season, waterlogging impacting the livelihood of Patharghata community. To conduct this research both primary (Household Questionnaire Survey, Focus Group Discussion, Key Informants Interview) and secondary (Books, Newspapers, Journals, Online articles, Website and NGOs achieves) data were collected to fulfil the objectives. From the survey it observed that salinity frequency and intensity is the most effecting hazards but damage is much higher for cyclonic impact in the study area. The study results demonstrate that the natural hazards affected the livelihood including losses and damages of crops cultivation, loss of boats and nets, scarcity of pure drinking water, loss of economy, increase of poverty, damage in crop cultivation, fisheries, livestock, vegetable gardens and also creates a state of unemployment among the people though some of them are enhancing their livelihood resiliency through implementing indigenous practices. The study also identifies that the community people are getting limited facilities for the forecasting and early warning mainly through the NGO’s, announcement by radio, miking and television for their daily livelihood. In the research area some initiatives have taken by the government and NGO’s to reduce the losses on livelihood but some of those are not properly monitored. The research recommends that the role of local government, non-government organizations, civil society organizations and communities to reduce the adverse effects of different hazards on livelihood should be addressed and enhanced accordingly through proper initiatives for enhancing livelihood resiliency.

Beliefs on the local effects of climate change: Causal attribution of flooding and shoreline retreat

Adaptation to climate change is a process that should engage different participants, including not only researchers and technicians but also other stakeholders and local individuals and, therefore, it is important to understand their beliefs on the local effects of climate change. Recent studies illustrate a linear relation between coastal distance and scepticism, which is lower in coastal zones than in inland. A possible explanation is that people living inland do not experience (or do not perceive) particular natural hazards as being caused by climate change, or attribute the natural hazards to other causes, apart from climate change. This might influence the relative importance of dealing with direct anthropogenic effects and planning adaptation to climate change. Therefore, the goal of this work was to explore this effect by comparing beliefs on the local effects of climate change in Aveiro region (Portugal), specifically in Baixo Vouga Lagunar (BVL, located in the inner side of Ria de Aveiro Coastal Lagoon, 10 km distance from the coast) with the nearby coastal zone between Esmoriz and Vagueira settlements. Stakeholders were interviewed and local individuals were surveyed in order to explore causal attributions towards relevant local environmental problems and compare with data available from the coastal zone. Natural hazards concerned flooding in BVL and shoreline retreat in the coastal zone. Results suggest that in BVL both stakeholders and local residents did not attribute local natural hazards to climate change. However, in the coastal zone, local natural hazards were indeed mostly attributed to climate change. This attribution to climate change was further correlated to a higher risk perception of natural hazards in the coastal zone but not in BVL. Thereby, it is important to consider distance from the shoreline in order to promote local processes of adaptation to climate change.

Natural hazards knowledge and risk perception of Wujie indigenous community in Taiwan

The purpose of this work was to investigate the natural hazards knowledge and risk perception of Wujie indigenous community, located in Fazhi village in the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan. Natural hazards (e.g. floods, landslides and debris flows) are one of the most critical issues for the Taiwanese government and for the people living in mountainous areas. During the last centuries, the native people experienced economic competition and military conflicts with a series of colonial periods that have led to a progressive loss of their original cultural identity. The motivation of selecting the case study of Wujie community is because (1) it has experienced, more than others, generations of devastating colonial oppression by foreign governments; (2) several landslides and debris flows occurred during the last decades; and (3) the area was subject of land exploitation and several hydroelectric projects. Two questions appear spontaneously: How are those indigenous people nowadays living with natural hazards? Have land use change and the anthropic pressure affected their knowledge and perception of natural hazards and related risk? This research, one of the first carried out in Taiwan involving an indigenous community, can offer a unique opportunity to answer these questions. The investigation utilized a variety of participatory methods by the use of face-to-face interviews. Results revealed that residents felt a high worry about landslide and flood risks. However they felt a slight preparedness to face them. The most considerable differences were found between the personal evaluations respect to the overall community. The discrepancy in the attitude–behavioural link may derive from an unsatisfactory level of communication and information probably ground in the absence of community participation in the decision-making process. Results revealed also the complexity of residents’ perspectives about the causes of the increase of natural hazards occurrence. To this point, the community has ascribed this phenomenon to several uncontrolled human actions during colonial period that have affected the environment and their living. In addition, gender, age education and experience of natural hazards were found to be significant predictors in this study. Paying attention to the indigenous perception of a hazard and risk can increase the effectiveness of projects implemented by practitioners who might need to communicate risks in the future. It also helps governments in their possible need to order evacuations, and future researchers to conduct similar projects.

Trust and risk perception of natural hazards: implications for risk preparedness in Chile

It has been found that both preparedness for disasters and public response are significantly influenced by risk perceptions and trust in authorities and experts. Although Chile is a country with a long history of natural disasters, few studies have evaluated the risk perceptions of natural hazards or the degree of social trust. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk perception in Chile regarding various natural hazards and the degree of trust on authorities and institutions. A survey was conducted in five major cities in Chile during the year 2013 and was completed by a total sum of 2054 participants. We assessed risk perception of nine natural hazards and the level of trust in ten national institutions and authorities. According to declared levels of trust, the institutions and authorities included in this study were categorized into three groups: (1) low trust, which included governmental authorities and institutions; (2) medium trust, formed by institutions with educational and preparation roles; and (3) high trust, formed by institutions and authorities responsible for maintaining public order and conducting rescue and aid operations. Although our results show that earthquakes, tsunamis and wildfires were natural hazards of greatest concern to the national population, they also reflect that there are specific additional concerns in different cities that are coherent with their individual history of natural disasters. Implications for natural disaster risk preparedness are discussed.

Análisis de la percepción de los riesgos naturales en la Universidad de Alicante

Los estudios sobre percepción de riesgos intentan analizar las relaciones afectivas y éticas que una comunidad establece con el ambiente en que vive. Las percepciones ambientales son entendidas como la forma en que cada persona aprecia y valora su entorno. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo analizar la percepción de riesgos naturales en los miembros de la comunidad académica de la Universidad de Alicante. Para evaluar la percepción se aplicaron encuestas. Han sido contestadas 80 encuestas, todas por medio electrónico. Los resultados indican que la percepción de las principales amenazas por fenómenos naturales son: las inundaciones, las sequías y los incendios forestales. Se concluye resaltando la importancia de trabajos que aporten información sobre la percepción ambiental, con el fin de hacer más eficiente la aplicación de políticas ambientales.

From the Editors

From the Editors