RISK PERCEPTION FROM THE SCHOOL CIVIL DEFENSE PROGRAM IN BLUMENAU

Abstract

Nationally known for its history of floods and landslides, since its foundation in 1850 Blumenau, in Vale do Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil, has recorded 92 floods as well as mass movements, which have affected all regions of the city. In the face of successive natural hazards that caused human loss and material damage, it was necessary to organize the city’s disaster risk management. One of the preventive actions developed by the municipality of Blumenau in partnership with schools is the School Civil Defense Program, whose objective is to make communities safer by giving classes on natural disaster prevention to children and teens. The present work proposes to analyze the risk perception of these students through participant observation and literature and documentary research. It is noted in this article that risk perception makes students more capable of prevention and resilience actions and behaviors.