A Study on Residents’ Risk Perception in Abrupt Geological Hazard*

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, such as typhoons, landslides, earthquakes, etc., now killing and injuring millions of people every year and causing mounting economic losses.The greater tragedy is that many of the losses due to disasters could have been averted. In order to reduce the abrupt geological hazards’ casualties effectively in remote mountain areas, local citizens’ attitudes of disaster prevention and precaution play an important role and cannot be ignored. This study conducted questionnaire survey to understand their disaster perception and actual evacuation behaviors, and aimed to discuss the special geographic environment and social structure of Qingyuan County in East China's Zhejiang province, investigated the outcrops in areas vulnerable to disasters, and conducts a survey on locals in Shimuxia, Pingtou, Zhangcun, and Tanggen villages. The researcher attempted to understand local people’s cognition of and reaction to landslides, mudflows,and other natural disasters as well as hazard perception and coping behaviors. The research results were expected to serve as a reference for the government or local authorities to prepare anti-disaster risk management.