ABSTRACT
Worldwide, it has been found that there are wide variations in the ways that people respond to probabilistic hazard forecasting: Some people may make extensive preparations, in line with advice from the relevant authorities, while others will take no action at all. Although the dangers arising from natural hazards are undeniably real, the element of uncertainty inherent in forecasting means the perceptions of the individuals in, for example, Ÿood-risk areas, form an important aspect of human response. These perceptions may be inŸuenced by factors such as familiarity with the hazard, the degree of “controllability” associated with the threat itself (Slovic, 2007), as well as personality types (Baumann and Sims, 1978) and belief systems (Lindell and Perry, 2000).
