Risk Perception to Preparedness: 2011 Pre- and Post-Great Tōhoku Japan Earthquake

Mihoka Fukurai, & Lisa Grant Ludwig

Published September 8, 2024, SCEC Contribution #13819, 2024 SCEC Annual Meeting Poster #199

Natural hazards are ubiquitous, and preparedness and mitigation are essential to reducing morbidity and mortality. This study examines Japan's 2011 M 9.1 (USGS) Tōhoku Earthquake and its effect on insurance uptake and risk perception. Individual characteristics, including age, biological sex, income, area of residence relative to the disaster, and homeownership, are known to determine risk perception and insurance uptake. The results of this study demonstrate that risk perception and insurance uptake increased after the Tōhoku Earthquake. The likelihood of insurance uptake seems unaffected by income level post-disaster, while before the earthquake, income was a significant factor in enrolling in insurance. These findings have significant implications for enhancing preparedness measures. The observed increase in risk perception and insurance uptake following the Tōhoku Earthquake emphasizes the importance of exposure to disasters in shaping individuals' perceptions of risk and their willingness to take proactive measures. These results suggest that witnessing a major disaster can heighten risk perception and insurance uptake. Alternatively, personal disaster experience may attenuate risk perception and diminish preparedness behaviors. This necessitates further research into natural hazards, risk perception, and the ramifications of experiencing or witnessing such disasters.

Key Words
Risk perception, Tōhoku Earthquake, Tsunami, Insurance, Protective behavior.

Citation
Fukurai, M., & Grant Ludwig, L. (2024, 09). Risk Perception to Preparedness: 2011 Pre- and Post-Great Tōhoku Japan Earthquake . Poster Presentation at 2024 SCEC Annual Meeting.

Related Projects & Working Groups
Community Capability Building (CCB)