A new survey reveals large gaps in communication between governments and citizenship, especially in southern European countries.
While Boris Storm sweeps Central Europe last year, destructive floods destroyed Spain and Germany, at least charging 258 lives in total.
These three disasters between them The most expensive ten climate phenomenon Last year, they show the important importance of preparation against disasters around the world.
However, according to a new Eurobarometer survey, Less than four of ten Europeans believe that they are well prepared Confront the disaster or emergency situations in your area. And even more worried, less than one of the participants claims that the city is informed about the plan to intervene against disasters or emergencies. Let’s see how Europeans perceive the preparation of their administrations before disasters.
Which countries have a transparent plan for disasters?
According to the survey, in February and March 2024, more than 26,000 European participants, Only 9% of EU citizens claim that they know the plan of their cities, regions or countries. In disaster or emergency situations. This includes evacuation procedures, places to take refuge or help.
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, there is a major difference between the UN. A emergency It is an activity that can be managed by existing resources, but disasterIt carries the local response capacity and requires external assistance.
This rate varies greatly from one country to another: in Malta and Greece, only 2% Up to 20% in Sweden and then 19% in Finland. The example of the two Scandinavian countries is not surprising, because at least one of the five participants “participated in training or exercise to learn to react in emergencies”.
David Alexander, Professor of Emergency Planning and Management at the University of London (UCL), insists on the need to prepare for a disaster and to remember more than 200 lost life Valencia floods Last October. Euronews Green ‘, “There was an weather warning, but the administrative part of the warning process (warning and making decision, etc.) was ineffective.”
The highest scores remain relatively low, which Even in the best informed country, only 1 out of 5 people knows the disaster plan His city. This shows an important communication gap between local governments and citizens about emergency situations.
For example, when the participants asked: “Do you know how to warn emergency services in case of disaster?” In the EU compared to an average of 57%. “It is more likely that households with their plan to protect themselves,” Ed Morrow, the Lloyd Registration Foundation Campaign Director, a charity dedicated to World Security.
Which countries feel less ready for disaster?
Regarding the above, Most EU citizens (58%) do not feel well prepared For disasters or emergencies that may occur in the region where they live. Only 37% are considered well prepared. This refers to personal preparation, not the opinion of the participants about local authorities or countries.
The perception of being well prepared varies significantly from one country to another. Slovenia is released between 25% malt and 65%. Other results allow us to understand why this last country is more confident in preparations for disaster. The survey was conducted at the beginning of 2024 one year after the country. It was devastated by the floods. In IT, 31% of the participants claim that they have participated in voluntary activities to increase their knowledge up to disasters, which are the highest percentage of all countries participating in the survey.
Southern European countries are the minimum feelings to be prepared. Among them Portugal (27%), Greece (28%), Spain (29%) and Italy (34%). These countries tend to natural disasters such as forest fires and Heat wavesconcentrated with climate change.
This perception Less than 40% in the main countries of Western and Central Europe, As the Netherlands (31%), France (30%) and Belgium (37%).
COUNTRIES Eastern Europe and Baltic StatesLike Latvia and Bulgaria, also low reliable indices. In only five countries, people who feel well prepared have the majority and only one -exceeds 60%.
Knowing what to do in case of disaster may be more relevant than just feeling prepared. But, In the EU, less than half (46%) announced that he knew. He admitted that he didn’t know a slightly higher percentage (48%). “Europeans feel more impotent in disasters,” Morrow said Morrow. Says.
AdvertThe percentage of people claiming to know what to do in the case of catastrophs varies between 30% of Malta and 84% of Slovenia. North and Central Europe (Slovenia, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and Austria) occupy the top places, while the Mediterranean and Southern European countries (Spain, Italy, Portugal and Malta) are the countries that have the least confidence in knowing what to do during an emergency.
Why do Southern Europeans feel less prepared for emergencies?
Morrow says, “Southern European inhabitants are often exposed to disasters associated with natural risks than the North and the West,” Morrow says. Report According to the World Risk Survey of 2023 Lloyd Registration Foundation, One in five people in southern Europe (20%) announced that it has been subjected to disaster in the last five yearsCompared to one in eight (13%) in North and Western Europe.
As for the lower level of confidence In Southern EuropeProfessor Alexander from UCL believes that this is probably due to the increasing size and frequency of natural risks in the Mediterranean region. “As leaders and protectors in this field, it may reflect less confidence in the government.”
Classifications by countries often coincide with the perception of good preparation. However, there are some significant changes between these two indicators. For example, The Netherlands and Greece are significantly above What to do Belgium and Hungary below compared with the perceived preparation level.
AdvertReal knowledge of climatic disasters perception
The well -prepared and self -affected information feeling does not necessarily reflect the real capacity. “People often predict their own healing capacity,” Professor Alexander says. This shows a study that creates faulty ideas between the owners of housing on the floods in Eastern England: “Are you ready for their homes to be inundated?”
Most of those who responded positively, “until the water level falls to the top and will stay there,” he said. But then they admitted that they didn’t notice that Electricity, heating or water supply would be exhausted.
Two -thirds want more information about disasters
Survey also Open majority (65%) EU citizens think this You need more information to be prepared before disaster or emergency situations. It ranges from 43% of Sweden and 84% of Greece.
Southern EU countries (Greece, Portugal, Malta, Spain, Chipre and ItalyThey feel less knowledgeable. Almost half of Europeans (49%) states that if they want to inform themselves about disaster risks, they will apply to the national media. “They need to get better and solid information about what risks are and how to respond to them,” Professor Alexander needs to get better. “
AdvertExpert emphasizes its important role. Public and Community Participation “We need rules for emergency planning. We need to answer the answers.” Morrow also calls political leaders To support preparation at homewith local, regional and national planning efforts.
Time is essential. Caused by excessive meteorological phenomena Climate crisis Between 1993-2022, they caused more than 765,000 deaths worldwide. Three European countries – Spain, Italy and Greece – are among the greatest human and economic effects of extreme meteorological phenomena.
