Promoting awareness among senior citizens of disaster prevention and landslide risks in a local city in Saga Prefecture

Abstract

  Natural disaster is a global phenomenon that has caused serious damage in recent years. Storm and flood cause especially big damage because of the influence of climate change in the rural area. The purpose of this research is to analyze aged people’s awareness of disaster prevention and disaster risk factors through a questionnaire survey. In November, 2007, we analyzed the questionnaire survey of 43 aged people (65 years or older) who live in a small local city in Saga Prefecture (46,000 people and rate of aging 20.9 %). Aged people traditionally worry about weather information and disaster information from city offices, and the concern for wind damage, earthquake, and flood damage is high. From our research, the aged people’s natural disaster prevention awareness was caused by their experience of disaster in the past. The anxiety of aged people about natural disaster was clarified by this survey. Further, investigation of land slide risks zone by geographic information system showed differences in the distribution of aged population and dangerous areas.