Exploring the relationship between housing conditions and risk perception in a disaster context

Area of Science:

• Disaster studies
• Environmental psychology
• Urban planning

Background:

• The link between housing conditions and disaster risk perception is under-researched.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for effective disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if housing conditions influence hurricane risk perception.
• To determine if risk perception affects individuals' intention to adopt protective actions against hurricanes.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative approach using online questionnaires with 816 Florida residents.
• Statistical analyses including variance, correlation, and regression were employed.

Main Results:

• Required dwelling repairs and ground-floor occupancy significantly influenced risk perception (medium effect for threat possibility, weak for threat severity).
• Risk perception showed a weak correlation with intentions for emergency preparedness behaviors (e.g., emergency kits, evacuation plans).
• Regression models found no significant association between threat perception and preparedness intentions.

Conclusions:

• Specific housing conditions, such as repair needs and floor level, impact how individuals perceive hurricane risks.
• Current risk perception has a limited influence on proactive hurricane preparedness behaviors.
• Findings can inform targeted interventions, educational campaigns, and policy development for enhanced community resilience.