Public Disaster Awareness (PDA): Concept Construction and Case Measurement

Rapid access to food and water in disaster‐affected areas is crucial for meeting individuals’ nutritional needs, and the uninterrupted operation of public food service is closely tied to the disaster awareness levels of staff. This study aimed to examine the disaster awareness perception level of public food service staff ( n = 223), and to evaluate these perceptions in relation to socio‐demographic factors. Data was collected using the Disaster Awareness Perception Scale, which consists of 36 items for disaster education awareness, pre‐disaster awareness, false disaster awareness, and post‐disaster awareness, along a socio‐demographic questionnaire. The Cronbach's alpha for the scale was found 0.906. Participants 76.0% ( n = 169) showing good, 15.8% ( n = 35) moderate, and 8.2% ( n = 19) insufficient levels of disaster awareness. Statistically significant differences were found according to age, educational level, and length of employment in the same workplace ( p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed regarding gender, marital status, work seniority, prior disaster experience, service in disaster areas, or having relatives in disaster zones. Consequently, staff with low disaster awareness should be considered a group requiring additional support in disaster preparedness and response processes. It is recommended to provide awareness‐based and practice‐oriented training, clarify disaster‐related responsibilities in job descriptions, and increase the frequency of scenario‐based drills. These findings demonstrate that disaster education and preparedness programs will promote a balanced level of disaster awareness. This study expands the literature on crisis management and disaster awareness perception by highlighting a public food service population that has not been studied in Türkiye or even globally.

In the past two decades, disasters have directly affected the lives of nearly 1.23 million people. Asia is the most affected region in the world by all types of disasters, such as war and natural disasters, accounting for 44% of all disasters, 58% of total deaths, and 70% of all victims. Iran has remained one of the most heavily impacted countries by various disasters. Emergency nurses are expected to use their professional expertise to provide the necessary nursing services to reduce disaster-related risks. Nurses at all levels of healthcare play a crucial role in disaster risk management and must possess the readiness and core competencies to respond to disasters. Therefore, core nursing competencies in emergency situations are essential for dealing with disasters. Policymakers have been too busy or lack the expertise to read and understand complex scientific articles. As a result, they need policy briefs that cover the key points so they can plan and implement the necessary interventions based on evidence. Thus, the aim of this study is to provide a framework for producing policy briefs for policymaking and enhancing nurses' core competencies in disasters by policymakers in government and health authorities. Implications for Policy: Policymakers and hospital managers should design and implement structured training programs to improve nurses' core competencies. Before disasters occur, a written plan with clear roles that are understandable for all nursing staff should be established; this can increase nurses' response times in assisting affected people. It is essential that nursing managers provide specific guidelines for standard and structured training during disasters to enhance nurses' awareness of disasters and communication skills.

Situation awareness (SA) in natural disasters is crucial for timely and effective response efforts. Traditional approaches typically rely on centralized models that lack consideration of regional variability in disaster types, such as floods in coastal areas or earthquakes in seismic zones. A distributed system for situational awareness is crucial because it enhances resilience, redundancy, and reduces reliance on centralized infrastructure by enabling multiple nodes to collaboratively gather and process information, leading to a more robust system. In addition, mainstream machine or deep learning models usually focus on overall accuracy. To address these limitations, we propose a distributed AI framework that can leverage region-specific models to enhance disaster classification and response. Our deep learning model also employs a disaster-specific gating module to selectively focus on and prioritize relevant information. The model with parametric activation functions can help improve feature selection for different disaster types. Our experiments demonstrate that the deep learning model with a disaster-specific gating module can prioritize relevant disasters and improve the accuracy in terms of disaster classification. This paper also highlights the potential of integrating regionally focused disaster models with gated attention deep learning models in a globally perspective distributed framework, enabling more targeted and effective disaster response strategies.

Risk and responsibility <b>The Social Roots of Risk Producing Disasters, Promoting Resilience</b> <i>Kathleen Tierney</i> Stanford Business Books, 2014. 317 pp.

Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, and hailstorms have become more frequent and dangerous in recent years, especially in developing countries like Nepal. School students of Bheemdatt municipality are at high risk of natural disasters, especially when they are in school and at home. This study focuses on Bheemdatt Municipality of Kanchanpur District. The main objective of the study was to assess disaster awareness and risk reduction knowledge among school students in Bheemdatt Municipality, Nepal. The research was conducted using both primary and secondary sources of data. A Simple random sampling method was used to select respondents. Data were collected through surveys and interviews conducted in 14 schools of which six were government and eight were private. The sampled schools represent different levels of disaster risk. A total of 110 students participated in the study, along with teachers and school principals. The findings indicate that the majority of students had acquired knowledge about disasters mainly through school textbooks, while other sources such as television, radio, and the internet were reported to be less frequently utilized. Among the types of disasters experienced, earthquakes, floods, and hailstorms were the most common in the study area. Many students understood disaster preparedness and mitigation, some remained unclear about the specific actions required before, during, and after a disaster. The study finds that strengthening disaster education in schools helps students gain a clearer understanding of disaster risk reduction (DRR). It emphasizes the crucial role of youth education in safeguarding lives and communities. Additionally, the study examines the current status of disaster education in Nepal and offers recommendations to improve community resilience through educational initiatives.

Disasters are important events that are difficult to predict and occur in various ways, often with high destructive power. Earthquakes, floods, droughts, major industrial accidents, famine, technological accidents, epidemics, etc. are only a few of the major types of disas-ters that mankind has been exposed to from past to present. In recent years, natural and unnatural disaster events have been observed both in Turkey (Düzce-earthquake, 1999; Giresun-Dereli-flood-flood, 2020; Kahramanmaraş-Pazarcık-earthquake, 2023) and in many other parts of the world (Sumatra-tsunami, 2004; Ecuador-earthquake, 2016; USA-hurricane-storm, 2023). The impact of disasters is often not limited to one region but can spread over a wide area. As a matter of fact, the impact of this destruction can be reduced at some point thanks to various measures that can be taken before the disaster. For exam-ple, identification of regional risks, early warning systems, crisis management, emergency action plans, etc. can be considered within the scope of these measures. Another important issue is to increase the level of disaster awareness of the society. Especially in regions where disaster risk maps have been prepared, such awareness raising activities can be carried out to make the reaction of the society against disasters more controlled and conscious. The aforementioned issues constitute the main objective of this study. This study was conducted to evaluate the disaster awareness levels of Gümüşhane Univer-sity central campus students. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using SPPS 25 statistical program. In the study, a 5-point Likert scale was used to measure disaster risk perception. In the study, frequency analysis test, Kruskal Wallis test and Mann Whitney U test were performed. As a result of the analysis, it was analyzed at 5% level of significance (p&amp;lt;0.05) and it is stated in the tables as arithmetic mean, standard deviation and percent-age of the number of individuals. Accordingly, as a result of the non-parametric Mann Whitney-U test, no significant difference was found between the groups. As a result of the non-parametric Mann Whitney-U test conducted to determine whether the disaster risk perception sub-dimension scores of the students differed significantly according to the gender variable, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups at the p&amp;lt;0.05 level in favor of the group exposed to disaster.

Children account for the greatest proportion of casualties from hazard impacts, especially in developing countries where they comprise the largest percentage of total population. This disproportionate vulnerability of children has recently been the focus of various United Nations initiatives for disaster risk reduction and is increasingly being the focus of local and national measures to reduce the impacts of hazards. The overarching focus of these childrenspecific measures has been the promotion of disaster education to enhance the level of awareness among school-age children. However, this new trust toward the disaster awareness among children presents a new challenge for disaster planners, especially as this relates to the development of appropriate tools and techniques for the enhancement of the disaster knowledge base of children. Specifically, disaster management planners are challenged in ensuring not only that the information provided is appropriate to the information-assimilation capacity of children but also that the appropriate tools and techniques are developed to ensure effective conveyance of information through a medium that is neither stoic nor boring. The disaster awareness game presented in this article was designed with these challenges in mind and is intended to evaluate and promote disaster awareness in children. Preliminary results suggest that the tool is effective in meeting this objective.

Evaluating the cognition and response of middle/high school students to earthquake—a case study from the 2013 Mw6.6 Lushan earthquake-hit area, China

Post-disaster prevention strategies and education affect and shape the future development pattern and behavior of disaster prevention and reduction. Chengdu has made great achievements in disaster prevention education after the Wenchuan earthquake. Data from several dimensions has been analyzed through SPSS to explore the reasons for its success. The first dimension is disaster prevention education, including disaster research, disaster educational institution bases and disaster prevention education halls, etc. The second one is legal strategies for disasters, including current disaster-related policies and regulations of Chengdu. The disaster education in Chengdu over the ten years has been reviewed based on the weighted processing of historical data by SPSS. Though achievements have been made, there is room for improvement in the cultivation of a legal cultural concept for disasters and the establishment of a disaster accountability mechanism. Therefore, this paper reviewed the past legal education experience of Chengdu and made targeted suggestions based on the discrete processing analysis of multiple factors of post-disaster education so as to provide more thoughts on future disaster prevention strategies and legal education for disasters.

Merapi volcano in Central Java is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. However, the area of Mount Merapi is still occupied by many inhabitants. Population growth in disaster prone areas is also quite high, even after a major eruption disaster in 2010. To reduce disaster risk, disaster education is necessary, including by utilizing local knowledge about disasters. This paper aims to (1) identify disaster education through local knowledge in the western and southern flank of Merapi Volcano, (2) reveals the influence of physical environmental conditions on disaster education that is formed. The research is done by geography approach that is environmental approach and emphasize on the theme of geography especially location, place, and human- environment interaction. The results show: (1) There are several forms of disaster education through local knowledge among others in the form of advice, philosophy of life, myths, art, and culture. The educational process is done in various activities of community life, both during pre disaster, disaster, and post disaster. village elders and community leaders are the most influential parties in the disaster education process. However, at present the role of local knowledge in disaster education is relatively poor. (2) There is an influence of the physical environmental conditions on the form of disaster education, especially geomorphological conditions. Geomorphological conditions affect the types of volcanic hazards, thus determining the characteristics of disaster education undertaken. This paper presents alternative methods in disaster education, in an effort to support disaster management that has been done by the government.

The unique geography and fragile geological condition have made Nepal more prone to various types of disasters. The 2015 Gorkha Earthquake had a serious effect on one-third of the population of Nepal. Disaster comes with both opportunities and consequences. It depends on how a country and affected people deal with the situations. After the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, many people especially those from the affected districts were assumed to be sensitized regarding the consequences of Earthquake disaster. In general, the disaster affected people have certainly gained know-how of the disaster to some extent even through experiences. But, the people who are less affected by the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake are yet to be aware of its major consequences. Hence, this research aims to understand the perception of people who were not severely affected by the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake but they are at high risk of future earthquake events. This research evaluated whether such people are aware of the major disaster consequences or not. Likewise, it also evaluated whether they are working on the risk reduction and disaster preparedness plans to minimize human and property loss in the future or not. So, this research was carried out in the rapidly urbanizing Pokhara City situated in the western part of Nepal which is at high risk of various types of disasters including earthquakes. The research was focused on understanding the perception of risk perceived by the people of Pokhara City in the aftermath of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. A household survey was conducted that involved the individual interview of a total of 152 participants from randomly selected houses. Various questions related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) issues including readiness and mitigating behaviour of people, disaster risk adaptation and perceptions were asked. Histogram analysis, distribution analysis, bivariate correlations and independent sample t-tests were conducted to examine the relationship between people in disaster education-related programs and how they are following key DRR issues related to dependent (criterion) variables. A series of independent sample t-tests were conducted to examine the effects of age, gender, and disaster events on the dependent variables. Likewise, to evaluate the coherency of the data provided by the respondents, the Partial Credit Model (PCM) was used. Validity, reliability and unidimensionality of the scale were further evaluated by using PCM. The findings of this research show that the people residing in such a rapidly urbanizing Pokhara City are completely unaware of the major consequences of various types of disasters. Almost 60% of the respondents even well-educated conceived that the disaster is merely the act of God that is beyond our imagination to control and mitigate. This easily concludes that in Pokhara City, the local community, technicians and even policymakers are unaware of the proper disaster management plans and policies. Pokhara city lacks awareness of upcoming disasters and it is a serious drawback that can create too many issues in sustainable development practices in the city.

This research aims to develop a disaster mitigation-based ecotourism model in Nagari Ampiang Parak, integrating ecotourism management, turtle conservation, and local entrepreneurship with disaster mitigation strategies. The research addresses the need to simultaneously enhance community resilience and economic stability in disaster-prone coastal regions. A mixed - methods approach combined ethnographic qualitative studies with quantitative data collection through structured questionnaires. Qualitative methods included in-depth interviews with community leaders, ecotourism stakeholders, and residents, while quantitative data focused on disaster awareness, economic benefits, and conservation participation. The research spanned one year, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of community practices and outcomes. This research develops a disaster mitigation-based ecotourism model in Nagari Ampiang Parak by integrating turtle conservation, local entrepreneurship, and environmental management. The findings show that 57% of respondents are aware of disaster risks, and 53% participate in preparedness activities. Ecotourism and conservation involve 53%-57% of the community, with mangrove planting and turtle protection as key strategies. Economically, 50%-55% of respondents feel ecotourism increases income, new businesses, and job opportunities. Turtle conservation is also seen to protect biodiversity (65%) and contribute to disaster mitigation (63%). This model strengthens community resilience by combining environmental sustainability with local economic empowerment in disaster-prone areas. The research also shows that community empowerment through leadership roles, social cohesion, and active participation in conservation strengthens resilience and sustainability. Envir onmental efforts such as mangrove planting and turtle protection offer dual benefits for ecosystems and disaster reduction while increasing public awareness, strengthening local capacity, and supporting environmental education programs. The research conclu des that the proposed ecotourism model boosts community resilience by balancing economic growth with environmental conservation. This integrated approach reduces disaster vulnerability and fosters sustainable livelihoods through innovative and entrepreneurial practices. The findings highlight the potential of this model to serve as a blueprint for other coastal regions facing similar challenges.

Developing a disaster risk perception scale is a critical component of Disaster Risk Management (DRM), enabling the assessment and evaluation of the reactions, behaviors, and risk culture characteristics of individuals living under disaster risk. The objective of this study is to develop a disaster risk perception scale and to assess its effect on disaster preparedness. A pilot study was conducted with 359 participants, followed by a main study involving 786 participants. All participants resided in Giresun and Elazig, Turkey, the regions recently affected by earthquakes, floods, and landslides. A reliable and valid disaster risk perception scale with 25 items and 5 dimensions (exposure/impact, probability, uncontrollable, worry/fear, and vulnerability) was developed. The disaster risk perception of the participants differed significantly according to their educational level, income level, city of residence, and disaster education. As per the multiple regression analysis, the exposure/impact and worry/fear variables had positive and significant effects on disaster preparedness. For future studies, it is recommended to implement the disaster risk perception scale across diverse disaster types to assess and evaluate the outcomes effectively.

This research was conducted in Karangkobar District, Banjarnegara. Karangkobar District had 2 (two) moderate landslide threat levels covering an area of 2,419.96 hectares or 75%, while the high landslide threat level is 789.29 hectares or 25% spread over 11 villages. There had not been a disaster preparedness village, there had been no socialization or training on disaster reduction, the community still used kentongan and mosque speakers as media to convey information. The focus of this research was the social capital of the community, with data collection methods, namely documentation and observation. The data analysis used was descriptive analysis. The results of the study showed that there were 3 villages that had a moderate level of community social capital, with the characteristics of having regulations and institutions, early warning and disaster risk studies, reduction of basic risk factors, and development of preparedness on all lines, but disaster education was not yet available. There had not been a disaster preparedness village in all villages, only in Sampang Village, socialization and training on disaster reduction had been carried out, the community used kentongan and starts using mobile phones as a medium to convey information. Meanwhile, the village with a high level of landslide threat that had a high level of community social capital was Pagerpelah Village, which had the characteristics of having all parameters of community capacity in the form of rules and institutions, early warning and disaster risk studies, disaster education, reduction of basic risk factors, and preparedness development at all levels.

Surakarta is a city in Central Java, Indonesia that has the potential to be affected by any type of disaster. This study aims to identify hazards that may cause disasters in the city; to measure the level of damage produced by the disasters; and to provide disaster mitigation strategies for the city over the 2023-2027 period of time. To achieve these aims, this study uses the risk matrix method to determine the level of risk imposed by each of the potential disasters and implements the house of risk (HoR) phase 2 to formulate disaster mitigation strategies. The study reveals that there are 7 potential disasters taking place in the city during the time period of 2023-2027. The use of HoR phase 2 results in 10 mitigation strategies, namely “Carrying out disaster outreach and education”; “Collaborating with other parties in disaster management”, “Strengthening the legal framework for disaster management”, “Mapping disaster-prone areas”, “Providing early warning of disasters to communities”, “Forming disaster-resilient villages”, “Cleaning and developing water drainage channel”, “Controlling illegal settlements”, “Adding water catchment areas”; and “Conducting reforestation”.