Roles, responsibilities, and strategies for enhancing disaster risk perception: A quantitative study

Area of Science:

• Disaster Management and Risk Reduction
• Social Sciences and Public Policy

Background:

• Disaster risk perception is theoretical, aiming for risk understanding and community resilience as outlined in the Sendai Framework.
• Effective disaster risk reduction (DRR) requires understanding public expectations from management authorities to align expert and public views.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify public expectations from disaster risk management authorities.
• To bridge the gap between managers' and experts' perspectives and the public's views on DRR.
• To enhance public participation in DRR planning and community resilience.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with 22 participants.
• Purposive sampling was used across three provinces in Iran.
• Data analysis involved qualitative content analysis with open coding, classifying, and abstracting.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified include knowledge, beliefs, practical obligations, respect for human beings, and systemic actions in planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Three abstract categories emerged: personal, interpersonal, and social commitments.
• Participants emphasized the importance of commitment at all levels for effective risk reduction.

Conclusions:

• Disaster managers require maximum public participation in DRR programs during the preparatory stage.
• Managers must recognize the significance of their roles in individual and social interactions.
• A commitment to risk reduction, encompassing personal, interpersonal, and social aspects, is essential for effective disaster management.