Community-level risk awareness and disaster preparedness: an exploratory investigation of Quetta, Balochistan
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Natural hazardsincluding seismic shocks and their consequences such as avalanches and landslides – remain serious challenges to vulnerable communities in developing and developed nations around the world. Using new qualitative and quantitative data from Quetta, Balochistan, a vulnerable region of Pakistan, this paper identifies factors that promote community resilience through raising awareness, creating preparedness and reducing risk. We collected information from nearly 400 households selected using stratified random sampling with proportionate allocation through a survey questionnaire, fieldwork and group discussions. We found that despite being in an active fault zone with large scale recent earthquakes, most respondents had little interaction with warning systems, no engagement with planning efforts, and a minimum knowledge of evacuation procedures. Based on our results, we propose several risk reduction strategies including upgrading bottom-up engagement and community risk mitigation through grass roots educational outreach to build resilience in developing, vulnerable communities.
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4405859842