Volcanoes - Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management

The psychological,
social, cultural,
institutional and political
processes influencing
how individuals and
communities think
about volcanic risk must
be understood. Risk
perception is important
in the preparedness
process, as it is needed to
initially motivate people
into preparing for hazard
events, and needs to be
adequately raised before
people will contemplate
making their homes
and families safer. It is,
therefore, essential that
before embarking on
new campaigns, means of
A number of agencies such as GNS, the Earthquake Commission, and the Department of Conversation Conservation are
changing and assessing the
working together on with initiatives civil defence to raise staff public on initiatives understanding to raise of public volcanic understanding hazards. of volcanic hazards.
public’s risk perception be
thoroughly explored so
zones, 24% aware of some and 72% not knowing
they do not revert to old, ineffective ways.
any danger zones. Even though volcanic hazard risk
REFERENCES
perception and awareness is increasing amongst patrons
of the Whakapapa ski area, it once again has not led
Ballantyne, M., Paton, D., Johnston, D., Kozuch,
to ‘better prepared skiers’ as they are not seeking out
M. and Daly, M., 2000. Information on volcanic and
where these hazards will occur. In an attempt to solve
earthquake hazards: The impact on awareness and
this problem, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, DoC, GNS and
preparation. 2000/2, Institute of Geological and Nuclear
civil defence have produced posters and fact sheets on
Sciences, Wellington.
volcanic hazards at Whakapapa, which include a large
Finnis, in preparation. Resilience and
map clearly illustrating where hazards are likely to
Vulnerability in Communities Around Mt Taranaki. PhD
occur, for distribution during the 2004 ski season.
Thesis, University of Otago, Dunedin.
Galley, I., Paton, D., Johnston, D.M. and Becker,
CONCLUSION
J., 2003. Lahar response management at Whakapapa
In general, the data to date show that the
Ski Field, Ruapehu: staff development and public safety.
understanding of the volcanic risk by residents
2003/6, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences,
threatened by the effects of volcanic eruptions and
Lower Hutt.
associated hazards needs improving. Factors such as
Johnston, D.M., Bebbington, M.S., Lai, C.-D.,
threat knowledge, proximity to volcano, perceived
Houghton, B.F. and Paton, D., 1999. Volcanic hazard
likelihood of future disasters, level of impact and past
perceptions: comparative shifts in knowledge and risk.
experiences of disaster impact, which are commonly
Disaster Prevention and Management, 8(2): 118-126.
used to determine risk perceptions, do not particularly
Leonard, G.S., Johnston, D.M. and Paton, D.,
hold for these populations.
2004. Mitigating the lahar risk at Whakapapa Ski Area,
In order to change people’s risk perceptions
Mt. Ruapehu: Public perceptions and the effectiveness
future work should not only concentrate on providing
of the new warning system. 2004/02, Institute of
scientific information on the hazards. Nor should it
Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Lower Hutt.
be expected that residents in communities who have
Sheehy, A., 2002. A Study of the Perceived
been previously impacted by an event or live with
Risks of Tephra Fall Hazards in Auckland, New
the constant or close reminder of volcanic activity
Zealand. Masters Thesis, University of Auckland,
automatically have high risk perceptions (leading to the
Auckland, 122 pp.
expectation that they will be more ready for an event).
64
TEPHRA
June 2004