Effects of Disaster Literacy Factors on People’s Reaction to the Earthquake Early Warning

Abstract

Many people fail to take appropriate protective actions upon receiving an Earthquake Early Warning (EEW), which has emerged as an important concern. This study examined aspects of disaster literacy that promote appropriate protective actions in response to EEWs. Drawing on dual-process theory, we hypothesized that EEW responses would rely more on intuitive processes than on deliberative processes, because immediate reactions are required when an EEW is issued. This study used nationwide survey data collected in Japan in August 2022. Data from 491 respondents who had previously received EEWs were analyzed. The variables included reactions to EEWs, means of receiving EEWs, activity status when receiving an EEW, experience of victims of past disasters, expectation of an earthquake, recognition of hazard map, daily disaster-preparedness, and demographics. The results indicated that only 35% of participants reported taking concrete protective actions upon receiving EEWs. The experience of victims of past disasters, expectations of an earthquake, and daily disaster-preparedness were associated with reactions to EEW. Each of these variables reduced the likelihood of choosing inaction and increased the likelihood of selecting protective actions. These findings suggest that the experience of victims of past disasters, expectation of an earthquake, and daily disaster-preparedness experience function as intuitive factors related to disaster imagery, thereby facilitating immediate protective actions. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of designing disaster literacy strategies that target intuitive factors to enhance the effectiveness of EEWs.