Social Perception of Geo-Hydrological Risk in the Context of Urban Disaster Risk Reduction: A Comparison between Experts and Population in an Area of Southern Italy

Loredana Antronico, Roberto Coscarelli, Francesco De Pascale and Francesca Condino
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Loredana Antronico: Italian National Research Council, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection, Via Cavour, 4–6, 87036 Rende, Italy
Roberto Coscarelli: Italian National Research Council, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection, Via Cavour, 4–6, 87036 Rende, Italy
Francesco De Pascale: Italian National Research Council, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection, Via Cavour, 4–6, 87036 Rende, Italy
Francesca Condino: Department of Economics, Statistics and Finance, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 7, 1-23

Abstract: The perception of risk is influenced by how the signals about impacts of events are collected, selected, and interpreted. Empirical data suggest that significant differences in the perception of risk occur within the non-expert population itself, as well as between experts and non-expert population. The paper seeks to examine the risk perception of citizens living in an area subject to high hydro-geological risk of Calabria (Southern Italy), and understanding if local policy makers are aware of how local residents perceive risk. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to analyze the perception of experts, stakeholders and citizens on the following research topics: (i) perception of geohydrological risk, involvement in past events and behavior exhibited; (ii) information, communication, preparedness, and feeling of safety and trust. The results of the survey showed the communication gap between experts and people, evidencing the need for local authorities and experts to disseminate the culture of awareness on the risk and to increase the safety level of the citizens by means of participated actions aimed at reducing urban disaster risk.

Keywords: geohydrological risk; community; social perception; urban disaster risk reduction; Calabria (southern Italy) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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