Author(s)

A. Taniguchi, S. Fujii, N. Osanai & H. Ito

Abstract

This study developed a non-emergency risk-communication program focusing on sediment disasters. The program, which targeted local residents, included a motivational leaflet, easily understandable information, and a questionnaire requesting to make a behavioural plan. To verify the effectiveness of the program, it was tested in the town of Tosa in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. Participants in Tosa were randomly divided into two groups, with one group serving as the control and the other as the experimental group. The results showed that understanding of sediment disaster risk was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. However, the program had only a limited effect on participants who did not trust the local government, indicating the importance of the credibility of local government agencies responsible for disaster prevention. The risk-communication program also had a positive effect on inducing evacuation behaviour. Keywords: risk communication, evacuation behaviour, psychological process model, sediment disaster.

Keywords

risk communication, evacuation behaviour, psychological process model, sediment disaster