Towards a “behavioural design” approach for seismic risk reduction strategies of buildings and their environment

The street as an area of human exposure in an earthquake aftermath: the case of Lorca, Spain, 2011

“…There was some uncertainty linked mainly to different photographic perspectives, as has already been described in the literature (Bernardini et al, 2016a). We preferred to underestimate impact distances rather than overestimate them to avoid exaggerating situations when interpreting results.…”

“…Only a few recent studies have analysed differences in exposure according to the activities carried out, i.e. have assessed whether the activities led to an increase or decrease in human exposure or whether they had no influence on it (Bernardini et al, 2016a). The present paper proposes a methodology for the dynamic analysis of human exposure during the moderate earthquakes that occur in the Euro-Mediterranean context.…”

“…This stage is well known to psychologists and has been identified as a denial phase, in some cases affecting the perception of external reality. Such unconscious mechanisms help some people put a relatively disturbing situation into perspective and enable them to control their fears or anxieties more effectively (Páez et al, 1995;Bernardini et al, 2016a). Other individuals left buildings because of rumours of an aftershock or to see the damage done by the foreshock and even to discuss the event with people on the street.…”

“…However, this was immediately followed by the complete evacuation of the city. Such people had not been trying to protect family and friends but were making a last effort to organize themselves before evacuation, for example by looking for car keys or the keys to a holiday home (Prati et al, 2012;Bernardini et al, 2016a).…”

“…Protection journeys are defined as the set of movements preceding evacuation. They may consist in seeking personal protection or in seeking to protect another person or property (Creutin et al, 2009;Bernardini et al, 2016a). In Lorca this type of journey did not involve any lessening of exposure, because the people were still exposed to weakened buildings.…”