In disaster situations, such as floods or earthquakes, the elderly and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable and require additional attention. However, they are often neglected in existing municipal disaster emergency plans, particularly when such people live alone instead of in a care institution as their location is often undetermined in disaster situations or the information exists (e.g. if the people receive social services or if neighbours are aware of people in need in their vicinity) but is not structured in a way that is usable for civil protection emergencies. Up-to-date information for helpers and a community that is aware of this particular challenge for disaster relief can alleviate this problem. The paper presents the first results of the research action carried out by a joint partnership (universities/Italian, German and Danish voluntary organizations) highlighting: 1) which aspects are relevant for identifying the condition of vulnerability of the elderly and disabled; 2) how to develop a system for vulnerable people in integrated risk management mechanisms through local networks and volunteers; and 3) what is the added social value of volunteering in prevention and support for the elderly and disabled and the contribution to strengthening the resilience of local communities.Keywords Vulnerability, Natural Disaster, Social Added Value, Voluntary Organizations In Search of Marginal ResilienceIn this paper we present the results of the research carried out in four local communities based in three European countries (two in Italy, one in Germany and one in Denmark) with very different daily life cultures 1 . The communities involved were hit by different types of natural 1 The research was a part of the ADAPT project financed by the DG ECHO European Commission calamities, and they also distinguish themselves by the presence or absence of detailed emergency plans involving vulnerable people and by the major or minor involvement of stakeholders (public and nonprofit organizations).The above-mentioned differences were fundamental to the research because they allowed for the clearer identification of the common aspect necessary for coming up with a prevention strategy at a European level and the specific aspects and characteristics of each context in order to come up with an original strategy for each community. Research ObjectivesThere were three main research objectives. The first was to decide which aspects were relevant in order to identify the condition of vulnerability of the elderly and disabled individuals. The second was how to develop a system for vulnerable people in integrated risk management mechanisms through local networks and volunteers. The third was the added social value of volunteering in prevention and support for the elderly and disabled people, and the contribution to strengthening the resilience of local communities.The vulnerable situation of the elderly and disabled in a local community is critical for understanding the resilience of a community.In interna...

Abstract:The paper presents and discusses a model for prevention communication in relation to natural disasters based on the Italian campaign, "I do not take risks." The model consists of: a) the four stages of change in the prevention communication process: 1) perception and relevance: how to perceive an issue or significant problem, 2) knowledge: how to deepen the characteristics of the issue or problem that an individual considers relevant, 3) incorporation: how does one incorporate the issue into the imaginary, 4) change: how one can change behaviors and attitudes; b) the four principles of daily work for the prevention of communication: 1) monitor the media on a daily basis, 2) read the public space, 3) deal with the operators of information, 4) analyze the media landscape of the theme; c) the five dimensions of communication prevention strategy: 1) popularity in the messages, 2) use of narratives, 3) ritual in communication actions, 4) colonizing the imaginary: imaginary appropriation of market communication, 5) media education: building knowledge and awareness among citizens; d) the four phases of prevention communication impact assessment: 1) objectives, 2) community analysis, 3) measurement of involvement and participation, 4) impact assessment.

Communication and participation immediately present themselves as a combination capable of developing mutual symbiosis and reinforcement. However, it would be superficial to deduce that the ease of communicating through social media has solved the problem of participation. Instead, it is necessary to start from the awareness of the problems of this binomial in order to attempt to follow virtuous paths and avoid blind alleys. The paper presents the research/action carried out in several civic participation experiences, both real and virtual, promoted by NGOs and the local public administrations of several Italian cities (Verona, Messina, Bolzano, and Rome). The results highlight the opportunities and problems of participation through social media. Specifically, those opportunities are: (1) the possibility of involving a larger number of people who could not participate without social media; (2) the sharing not only of the results of the participation but also the processes behind the participation allows for an active protagonism of the people; and (3) the care of the real and virtual places of participation facilitates the active involvement of people. On the other hand, the problems are: (1) the lack of awareness of online media space generates a redundancy in communication; (2) the difficulty of emerging in the online public media space causes disaffection and disinterest; and (3) the scarce capability to be producers of online media content generates a fake participation.

No abstract

No abstract