Abstract. In Romania, local stakeholders' knowledge plays a role in
making decisions for emergencies, supporting rescue officers in natural hazard events, coordinating, and assisting the affected populations
physically and psychologically. However, despite the increasing occurrence
and severity of natural hazards in the Iași metropolitan area (of north-eastern
Romania), there is a lack of knowledge of local stakeholders on how to
encourage the population regarding safety actions. For this reason, we
interviewed 118 local stakeholders to determine their risk awareness and
preparedness capacities over a set of natural hazards, in order to understand where
deficiencies in knowledge, action, and trust are greatest. Results reveal
substantial distinctions between different threats and among stakeholders
based on their cognitive and behavioural roles in the communities. The roles
of responsibility and trust are important driving factors shaping their
perception and preparedness. Preparedness levels are low, and, for many,
learning and preparatory actions are needed to build resilience to the
negative occurrences of natural hazards. As the stakeholders' role is to direct
interventions in affected areas by managing communication initiatives with
the entire population of the community, there is a need to create
stakeholders' networks, empowering local actors and serving as a bridge
between authorities' decisions and local people, making effective risk
management plans, and securing more lives and economies.
People’s Response to Potential Natural Hazard-Triggered Technological Threats after a Sudden-Onset Earthquake in Indonesia
