Publication Date:
1984-11-01
Description:
Efforts by social scientists to investigate behavioral aspects of earthquakes are few when compared to other disasterinducing natural phenomena. Nevertheless, completed studies reveal patterns of findings similar to those found in other disaster investigations; and social scientific earthquake investigations promise to be more frequent in the future. This paper catalogues what the existing research record suggests as the major conclusions about human behavior in reference to earthquakes. Some of the conclusions reached in this paper are, first, action to mitigate future earthquake losses does not necessarilly follow from heightened risk perceptions in individuals; second, human response to earthquake disasters is better viewed as one in which the “thin-veneer-of-civilization” is strengthened rather than as a state of chaos or societal disorder, and the public is better described as a resource in disaster than as a problem; third, earthquake disaster economic impacts are not uniform in human populations despite comparable damage; forth, emergency response by organizations to earthquake disasters is both more effective and efficient if prefaced by sound planning; fifth, public information needs are rarely if ever adequately met in earthquake emergencies; and, finally the adoption of hazard mitigation strategies at all levels of government is most frequent in the aftermath of earthquake disaster than at any other time.
Print ISSN:
8755-2930
Electronic ISSN:
1944-8201
Topics:
Architecture, Civil Engineering, Surveying
,
Geosciences
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