Are the youth prepared for earthquakes? Subjective knowledge, risk perception and mitigation behaviors among the youth in Metro Manila, Philippines

Abstract

The present pandemic enables us to recheck the capacity of the youth to be prepared for various natural and man-made disasters. This study adds to the literature that assesses the current knowledge, perception and mitigation behaviors of the youth about earthquakes. A survey of 300 young individuals from one of the public universities in Manila, Philippines has revealed that young individuals still have high knowledge about earthquakes and the dangers because of earthquakes to themselves and their families. They also seek and share knowledge about the disaster because they perceive it to be a risky situation. Earthquake mitigation behaviors are also part of their disaster preparedness practices. Relationships of these three variables were established. There is, however, a lack of actual dissemination of the earthquake-related knowledge and practices outside the social circles of the youth. It is, therefore, necessary to tap the capacity of the youth in information dissemination and mitigation at a community level.