THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND CITIZEN PREPAREDNESS FOR RESPONDING TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Vladimir M. Cvetković

doi:10.2298/IJGI1602237C

Authors

Vladimir M. Cvetković Academy of Criminalistic and Police Studies, Belgrade

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2298/IJGI1602237C

Keywords:

security, natural disasters, floods, citizens, preparedness

Abstract

This paper presents the results of quantitative research into the relationship between educational level and preparedness of citizens to respond to a natural disaster caused by the flood. Starting from the local communities in Serbia that are vulnerable to flooding, 19 of them were selected randomly out of 150 municipalities and 23 cities and the city of Belgrade. In survey research conducted in 2015, which included 2,500 respondents, a test strategy in households was applied with the use of a multi-stage random sample. The research results indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between educational level and the following variables: preventive measures; financial funds; engaged in the field; engaged in a reception center; visiting flooded areas; heavy rains; river level rise; and the level of preparedness, supplies in the home; radio-transistor; flashlight; shovel; hack; apparatus for firefighting; supplies in the car; first aid kit in the home and so on. On the other hand, there is no relationship with variables: media reports, information in religious community, on television, education on radio, informal education system. The research results can be used to improve citizen preparedness to respond to disasters caused by flooding. The survey set out recommendations for increasing the level of preparedness to respond in such situations with regard to the educational level of citizens.

Article metrics

References

Cvetković, M. V. (2016). Influence of Income Level on Citizen Preparedness for Response to Natural Disasters. Vojno delo, 68(4).

Cvetković, V. (2016). Policija i prirodne katastrofe (Police and natural disaster). Belgrade, Serbia: Zadužbina Andrejević.

Cvetković, V. (2015а). Spremnost za reagovanje na prirodnu katastrofu — pregled literature (Preparedness for responding to naturald disaster — literary review). Bezbjednost policija građani, 1–2/15, 165–183.

Cvetković, V. (2015b). Fenomenologija prirodnih katastrofa — teorijsko određenje i klasifikacija prirodnih katastrofa (Phenomenology of natural disaster — theoretical determination and classification). Bezbjednost policija građani, 3–4/15, 311–335.

Cvetković, V. (2015c). Faktori uticaja na znanje i percepciju učenika srednjih škola u Beogradu o prirodnim katastrofama izazvanim klizištima (Factors of influence to the knowledge and perception of secondary school students in Belgrade about natural disasters caused by landslides). Bezbednost, LVII(1), 32–50.

Cvetković, V., & Dragicević, S. (2014). Spatial and temporal distribution of natural disasters. Journal of the Geographical Institute Jovan Cvijić SASA, 64(3), 293–309.

Cvetković, V., & Gačić, J. (2016). Evakuacija u prirodnim katastrofama (Evacuation in natural disaster). Belgrade, Serbia: Zadužbina Andrejević.

Cvetković, V., & Stanišić, J. (2015). Relationship between demographic and environmental factors with knowledge of secondary school students on natural disasters., Journal of the Geographical Institute Jovan Cvijić SASA, 65(3), 323–340.

Edwards, M. (1993). Social location and self-protective behavior: Implications for earthquake preparedness. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 11(3), 293–303.

Faupel, C. E., Kelley, S. P., & Petee, T. (1992). The impact of disaster education on household preparedness for Hurricane Hugo. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 10(1), 5–24.

FEMA. (2009). Personal Preparedness in America: Findings from the Citizen Corps National Survey. Retrieved from http://www.citizencorps.gov/ready/research.shtm

Finnis, K. K., Johnston, D. M., Ronan, K. R., & White, J. D. (2010). Hazard perceptions and preparedness of Taranaki youth. Disaster Prevention and Management, 19(2), 175–184.

Hurnen, F. R. (1997). Perceived Damage Preventability, Knowledge, and Preparation for Earthquakes. (Unpublished MA thesis.), Victoria University of Wellington. Wellington, New Zealand

Jakovljević, V., Cvetković, V., & Gačić, J. (2015). Prirodne katastrofe i obrazovanje (Natural disaster and education). Belgrade: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Security Studies.

Johnston, D., Becker, J., & Paton, D. (2012). Multi-agency community engagement during disaster recovery: Lessons from two New Zealand earthquake events. Disaster Prevention and Management, 21(2), 252–268.

Kohn, S., Eaton, J. L., Feroz, S., Bainbridge, A. A., Hoolachan, J., & Barnett, D. J. (2012). Personal disaster preparedness: an integrative review of the literature. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 6(03), 217–231.

Kreibich, H., Seifert, I., Thieken, A. H., Lindquist, E., Wagner, K., & Merz, B. (2011). Recent changes in flood preparedness of private households and businesses in Germany. Regional environmental change, 11(1), 59–71.

Mishra, S., & Suar, D. (2007). Do lessons people learn determine disaster cognition and preparedness? Psychology & Developing Societies, 19(2), 143–159.

Muttarak, R., & Pothisiri, W. (2013). The role of education on disaster preparedness: case study of 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes on Thailand’s Andaman Coast. Ecology and Society, 18(4), 51.

Panić, M., Kovačević-Majkić, J., Miljanović, D., & Miletić, R. (2013). Importance of natural disaster education-case study of the earthquake near the city of Kraljevo: First results. Journal of the Geographical Institute Jovan Cvijić SASA, 63(1), 75–88.

Russell, L. A., Goltz, J. D., & Bourque, L. B. (1995). Preparedness and hazard mitigation actions before and after two earthquakes. Environment and Behavior, 27(6), 744–770.

Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (2011). Retrieved from http://popis2011.stat.rs/?page_id=2134.

Tanaka, K. (2005). The impact of disaster education on public preparation and mitigation for earthquakes: a cross-country comparison between Fukui, Japan and the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. Applied Geography, 25(3), 201–225.

Tomio, J., Sato, H., Matsuda, Y., Koga, T., & Mizumura, H. (2014). Household and Community Disaster Preparedness in Japanese Provincial City: A Population-Based Household Survey. Advances in Anthropology, 4, 68–77.

Werritty, A., Houston, D., Ball, T., Tavendale, A., & Black, A. (2007). Exploring the social impacts of flood risk and flooding in Scotland: Scottish Executive Social Research. Edinburgh.