What drives feelings of responsibility for disaster preparedness? A case of power failures in Finland and New Zealand

Abstract

AbstractThe division of responsibilities for disaster preparedness between individuals and society is rapidly evolving: national‐level preparedness has made way for networked disaster risk governance, and citizens are also expected to play their part. Preparedness is shaped by various individual and socioeconomic factors, including previous disaster experience and perceptions of risk. However, little is known about whom citizens perceive to be responsible for preparedness. This study examines the factors associated with an individual's perception of their own responsibility in preparing for a disaster—long power failures—and the factors related to preparedness measures taken. As societal disaster context may impact perceptions of responsibility, we investigate preparedness through large‐scale surveys (n = 2028) in two countries: Finland, where the frequency of disasters is low, and New Zealand, which experiences disasters relatively often. We find that self‐efficacy strongly predicts perception of responsibility and actual preparedness measures in both countries. However, we show that New Zealanders feel more responsible for their own preparedness than Finns. This may be influenced by New Zealand's recent experiences of severe disasters and active preparedness‐related communication. In addition, previous experience with power failures and risk perception are connected to preparedness in both countries, echoing past research. We conclude that surrounding historical and societal context seem to shape the individual's feelings of responsibility for disaster preparedness, while self‐efficacy remains the most salient factor in empowering individuals to take responsibility.