Disaster risk awareness and preparedness of the EU population

This survey assesses the awareness of EU citizens about the disaster risks that could affect them, their preparedness to face various disaster risk scenarios, and the reliance they place on a range of actors in disaster situations. The survey also explores the engagement of EU citizens in voluntary work to increase disaster resilience.

The key findings of the report include:

• Perceived vulnerability to disaster risks: European citizens feel most vulnerable to extreme weather events (38%), followed by human health emergencies (27%), and floods (26%). Different regions feel exposed to different risks, such as cybersecurity threats in Sweden and Denmark and wildfires in Portugal and Cyprus.
• Sources of disaster risk information: national media is the most common source for learning about disaster risks (49%), followed by local media (36%) and emergency services (33%). Notably, 11% of respondents are uninterested in finding information on disaster risks.
• Preparedness for disasters: while 47% of EU citizens keep flashlights or candles for emergencies, preparedness in other areas is much lower; only 29% stockpile food and drinks, and 20% keep emergency water supplies. 58% of respondents feel unprepared for potential disasters.
• Trust in information: a majority of EU citizens (70%) trust information from public authorities and emergency services on disaster risks, yet nearly half (49%) do not feel adequately informed about risks that may affect them.
• Reliance in disaster scenarios: after a disaster, 89% of respondents would rely on family and friends, while 81% would expect support from emergency services; neighborhood and community networks (73%) and non-profit organizations (69%) are also considered key sources of help.