THE ROLE OF PERCEPTION AND COMMUNICATION IN EARTHQUAKE RISK MITIGATION

Abstract

Civic education and formation of public conscience constitutes one of the first and more important tools towards improving the awareness and perception of citizens to earthquake risk, taking a fundamental role on the construction of more resilient societies. However, since it requires the involvement of all citizens without exception, the creation and embedding of a risk culture represents a transversal challenge to our society. Being aware of this issue, this paper deals with earthquake risk perception and communication in Portugal, and discusses the results of a survey carried out resorting to a questionnaire specifically developed in the scope of the URBSIS research project. The questionnaire, which aimed at assessing the public knowledge and awareness on earthquake risk, had as target-public the residents of the Riverside neighbourhood of Faro, named Bairro Ribeirinho, and the local technical community related, directly or indirectly, to the construction and urban planning sectors.