1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
[O06-P39] Changes in the response of local residents to frequent earthquakes:The Noto Peninsula and the earthquake of 6/19/2022
Keywords:Seismology, Tsunami, Disaster Prevention
There has been an increase in the number of earthquakes in the northeastern part of the Noto Peninsula since around June 2018. The earthquake of 19 June 2022 (M5.4 with a maximum intensity of 6-) (hereafter referred to as the largest event) caused damage in Suzu City. Earthquakes are still occurring frequently, and there is concern about further seismic and tsunami damage from large earthquakes. In this study, we investigated the changes in awareness and behavior before and after the largest event and the current situation by conducting a questionnaire survey on the awareness of earthquake and tsunami disaster prevention in/around the source area.
To investigate the changes in awareness and behavior before and after the largest event, we conducted a questionnaire survey of teachers, students, and parents at Ishikawa Prefectural Iida High School, as well as residents of Suzu and the surrounding area in May 2022 (before the largest event) (Sugii et al., 2023) and February 2023 (after the largest event) using Google form. Compared the results of the questionnaires before the largest event with those of this study, we investigated the changes in awareness and behavior before and after the largest event with the difference in the attributes of gender, age, and residential area.
There were no significant differences in the composition of respondents in the two questionnaires. Following differences and changes in answers of questionnaires were found before and after the largest event: a 1% difference in the question "Are you worried about earthquakes", a decrease of about 10% in the question "Are you prepared for a tsunami?", an increase of about 8% in the question "Do you have an emergency carry-on bag?", and no difference in the questionnaire responses with gender.
The percentages of people who took action to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis and who had an emergency kit after the largest event, respectively, were about 40% and 20% higher among residents of Suzu City than in Noto Town. The percentage of those who took action after the largest event and that of those who had an emergency kit were approximately 20% higher among adults than among students. The percentage of those who felt anxious about earthquakes was about 15% higher among adults than among students. These results indicate that the disaster preparedness of the residents of Suzu City, where severe damages were caused by the largest earthquake, became higher after the earthquake than that of the residents of Noto Town and that adults have higher disaster preparedness than students.
Concerning tsunami preparedness, this survey clarifies that those who identified themselves as living within the expected tsunami inundation zone were the most prepared for tsunamis. The most common specific tsunami preparedness response is to check evacuation sites.
Approximately 52% of all respondents have taken disaster preparedness measures since the largest event, while 48% of those have not. For those who have taken measures, the major response about the specifics is the preparation of emergency food, drinks, and other necessary items, while reinforcing their homes is the minor response. This indicates that disaster preparedness measures that are easy to prepare and do not cost much are favorable, while those that are difficult to prepare and cost a lot are unfavorable.
Many respondents who did not take action gave reasons for not taking action, such as “I don't know what to do” or “I didn't suffer damage during the largest earthquake”, while fewer gave reasons such as “It is troublesome to check evacuation routes” or “It costs too much money”. These results highlight the necessity to inform residents about concrete disaster prevention measures and the fact that there may be a possibility of strong ground shaking larger than intensity 6-.
To investigate the changes in awareness and behavior before and after the largest event, we conducted a questionnaire survey of teachers, students, and parents at Ishikawa Prefectural Iida High School, as well as residents of Suzu and the surrounding area in May 2022 (before the largest event) (Sugii et al., 2023) and February 2023 (after the largest event) using Google form. Compared the results of the questionnaires before the largest event with those of this study, we investigated the changes in awareness and behavior before and after the largest event with the difference in the attributes of gender, age, and residential area.
There were no significant differences in the composition of respondents in the two questionnaires. Following differences and changes in answers of questionnaires were found before and after the largest event: a 1% difference in the question "Are you worried about earthquakes", a decrease of about 10% in the question "Are you prepared for a tsunami?", an increase of about 8% in the question "Do you have an emergency carry-on bag?", and no difference in the questionnaire responses with gender.
The percentages of people who took action to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis and who had an emergency kit after the largest event, respectively, were about 40% and 20% higher among residents of Suzu City than in Noto Town. The percentage of those who took action after the largest event and that of those who had an emergency kit were approximately 20% higher among adults than among students. The percentage of those who felt anxious about earthquakes was about 15% higher among adults than among students. These results indicate that the disaster preparedness of the residents of Suzu City, where severe damages were caused by the largest earthquake, became higher after the earthquake than that of the residents of Noto Town and that adults have higher disaster preparedness than students.
Concerning tsunami preparedness, this survey clarifies that those who identified themselves as living within the expected tsunami inundation zone were the most prepared for tsunamis. The most common specific tsunami preparedness response is to check evacuation sites.
Approximately 52% of all respondents have taken disaster preparedness measures since the largest event, while 48% of those have not. For those who have taken measures, the major response about the specifics is the preparation of emergency food, drinks, and other necessary items, while reinforcing their homes is the minor response. This indicates that disaster preparedness measures that are easy to prepare and do not cost much are favorable, while those that are difficult to prepare and cost a lot are unfavorable.
Many respondents who did not take action gave reasons for not taking action, such as “I don't know what to do” or “I didn't suffer damage during the largest earthquake”, while fewer gave reasons such as “It is troublesome to check evacuation routes” or “It costs too much money”. These results highlight the necessity to inform residents about concrete disaster prevention measures and the fact that there may be a possibility of strong ground shaking larger than intensity 6-.