Educational Programs and Human Response to Natural Hazards

Abstract
That an individual is aware of the risk of a natural hazard and the range of damage mitigation measures is no guarantee that he or she will act on this information. Based on a review of the literature, the available evidence is weak on the relatonship between awareness or knowledge and the consequent adoption of damage mitigation measures. Although substantial sums of money are expended each year on public information programs on natural hazards, little effort has focused on the cost-effectiveness of such programs.