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Social and Cultural Aspects of Natural Hazards Perception and Response
Author(s) -
GREGORY GEOFF,
LOVERIDGE ALISON,
GOUGH JANET
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
new zealand geographer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1745-7939
pISSN - 0028-8144
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7939.1997.tb00476.x
Subject(s) - samoan , focus group , natural disaster , hazard , preparedness , perception , natural hazard , emergency management , psychology , geography , socioeconomics , social psychology , sociology , political science , anthropology , philosophy , linguistics , chemistry , organic chemistry , neuroscience , meteorology , law
Focus groups conducted in two urban areas in New Zealand explored perceptions of natural hazards and disaster preparedness. The groups were structured by socio‐economic status, gender, age, and cultural background. Participants were generally aware of likely major hazard events but few maintained emergency kits or had prepared emergency plans. People held an optimistic attitude, believing they could cope with disaster. Differences amongst the groups included the inability of lower socio‐economic groups to afford emergency kits or insurance and evidence of strong supportive networking among Maori and Samoan groups.