Examining Risk Perception and Household Hazard Adjustments in Areas Subject to Joint Natural andTechnological Hazards: Towards Reduction of Community Vulnerability to Disasters
Introduction
The purpose of this study is to assess household hazard adjustments and risk
perception for earthquake, tsunami, chemical and joint natural hazard triggered
technological accidents/ hazards (known as Natechs) in Osaka and Kobe, Japan.
Hazard adjustment refers to risk reduction and emergency management
interventions to reduce disaster impacts. It includes hazard prevention andmitigation, and emergency and recovery preparedness. In the study we also
examine to what extent disaster information, hazard proximity, past disaster
experience, and demographic characteristics, among others, affect the adoptionof hazard adjustments and risk perception for these events.
Methodology
Survey questionnaires were mailed to 2000 randomly selected households living
near industrial parks on Osaka Bay in Sakai (Osaka, Japan) and Higashinada (Kobe,Japan). A stratified sample was taken according to their distance to the industrial
park (D≤700m, 700<D≤1400m, and 1400<D≤2000m) up to a distance of 2 km.
Figures 1(a) (Sakai) and 1(b) (Higashinada) present maps of the three strata ineach area sampled. A total 479 households replied. The effective response rate
for the study is 25%.

This study found that households from both areas surveyed had lower risk perception (interms of likelihood and severity) concerning the threats posed by chemical and Natech
accidents as compared to earthquake and tsunami. Protective behavior during these types ofaccidents has been found to be positively correlated with risk perception (Yu, Cruz andHokugo 2016). Low risk perception may mean that households may not take protective
actions when needed in such emergency situations. Thus, measures should be adopted toincrease household knowledge about the risk from chemical and Natech accidents in theirneighborhood and/ or community, and the measures that can be taken to reduce that risk.
This study found that households’ level of trust in government’s ability to protect themunder the risk of chemical and Natech accidents was low. Respondents had more trust in local
government’s ability to protect them against earthquake and tsunami threats, despite the factthat the perceived risk from these natural hazard phenomena was high.

100%

Do you know the chemical industrial park close to
your living area?
84.8%

80%

62.3%

60%
Conclusions

36.4%

40%

Our findings show that in both surveyed areas, households are well prepared forearthquakes and tsunami, but not for chemical and Natech accidents.
Respondents said that they do not receive any information regarding chemical or
Natech accidents. The survey has created awareness concerning chemical andNatech risks. Households indicated that they would start to prepare for chemicalor Natech accidents after this survey. Nevertheless, the low preparedness levels
suggest that more needs to be done. Local authorities, industries and otherorganizations should carry out activities to increase household knowledge andpreparedness for chemical and Natech accidents. Such activities could include
workshops, TV or radio programs, or information pamphlets, etc.

Sakai, Osaka

Industrial parks

Higashinada, Kobe

Industrial parks

Figure 1. (a)Map of Sakai and (b) Higashinada industrial parks and neighboring residential
areas showing the three strata sampled in each area.

20%

13.2%
2.1%

1.3%

0%

Sakai area

YesNoHigashinada area
No answer

Outreach and outputs
The project has involved outreach activities with local communities in Higashinada Ward,
Kobe. During the course of the current research project, we have participated in the monthly
meetings of the “Goden Machidukuri Association (GMA)” in Higashinada Ward. The purposeof the meetings has been to raise awareness concerning preparedness for chemical accidents
and Natech events in addition to earthquake and tsunami preparedness. The concerns of theGMA have been included in the survey questionnaire by specifically including questions onawareness of the presence of industrial parks near their houses, knowledge about prevention,preparedness and emergency response for these hazards. The results of the present study will
be presented to the GMA on 3 April 2016.
The results of this study will be presented to the Goden Community Association, as well as atnational and international conferences by several members of the research team.