Lack of knowledge of disaster guidelines and procedures found in a study with Bucharest residents

Participants of the Bucharest Citizen Summit (see source document for full description and reference) expressed a strong lack of knowledge about the guidelines and procedures their local disaster management authorities are following, with 55% of respondents indicating that they know not a lot or nothing at all.

Cultural Factors: Local knowledge

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations

Disaster Phases: Preparedness, Prevention, Response

Types of Actors Concerned: National civil protection body, Local authorities

Recommendations:

• Develop guidelines for disaster practitioners that take into consideration the different needs of and approaches to different ethnical groups
• Inform citizens about the risk they may face and about possible actions and measures, they can take to reduce vulnerability and better prepare themselves
• Training programmes for citizens of all ages should be developed. These are necessary to increase citizens’ knowledge of and preparedness in case of disasters. The training activities should be organized on the basis of a training strategy and should take various forms, ranging from emergency drill to workshops