Do Lessons People Learn Determine Disaster Cognition and Preparedness?

The study examines whether disaster experience and education through risk perception initiate flood and heat wave preparedness. Data were collected from 300 people, each of flood-prone and heat wave affected areas in Orissa. Results reveal that people having disaster experience and education are more prepared for flood and heat wave. More the people have prior disaster experience and education, more they perceive the risk of flood and heat wave. While increase in perceived risk of the disaster initiates flood preparedness, it does not further heat wave preparedness. Risk perception is only found to be a mediator between disaster experience, disaster-related education and flood preparedness.

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