Earthquake preparedness among religious minority groups: The case of the Jewish ultra-orthodox society in Israel

Abstract

Abstract. To work effectively, emergency management systems that address the threat of an earthquake must consider the needs of minority groups. Studies have been conducted regarding earthquake preparedness among marginalized social-cultural groups and on ways to improve it. However, very few studies have examined this in the context of religious minority groups, even though religious frameworks can have an impact on emergency preparedness. This study examined the effects of religious beliefs and customs on earthquake preparedness among the Jewish ultra-orthodox community in Israel, a significant religious minority with unique social, cultural, and economic characteristics. Findings obtained using mixed methods that included a survey and in-depth interviews demonstrated that the majority of the community had a low level of hazard knowledge and a high level of disbelief that a devastating earthquake would occur in their area in the near future. This is despite a long-documented history of earthquakes that devastated the Levant. Low exposure to media, insularity of educational institutions, and suspicious attitudes toward state authorities were shown to hinder preparedness, whilst strong social capital improves it. Religious beliefs affected preparedness both positively and negatively. Practical recommendations for policymakers to improve preparedness in religiously diverse societies include receiving support from religious leaders and adapting technologies and information to be religiously appropriate. The findings establish that religion is a significant factor that influences all stages of disaster response and consequently, must be taken into consideration when attempting to upgrade preparedness.

The influence of new information that contradicts common knowledge about earthquake preparedness in Israel: A mixed methods experiment study

“…Past earthquakes caused grave damage to life and property. In modern times, Israel has been hit by a number of low magnitude earthquakes [ 28 , 32 ]. Experts agree that a major earthquake will hit Israel in the future, though they cannot predict the precise time, place or magnitude [ 28 , 33 ].…”

Review to: Earthquake preparedness among religious minority groups: The case of the Jewish ultra-orthodox society in Israel

“…Earthquake hazards and damage in Jerusalem Section 2.3 does not present the state of the art knowledge and understandings regarding earthquake hazards and damage in Jerusalem. For example, Avni (1999) presented detailed lists and reports of what had happened in Jerusalem during the 1927 earthquake; Salamon et al (2010) conducted earthquake hazard evaluation for Jerusalem; Zohar et al 2017presented updated list of earthquakes and the damage they cause in Israel, including in Jerusalem. With this respect, Section 2.3 and Table 1 should be revised thoroughly.…”