The Role of Place Attachment and Sense of Community in Evacuation Planning

Isabel Estrela Rego (Instituto de Investigação em Vulcanologia e Avaliação de Riscos - Universidade dos Açores)

Disasters happen when an extreme natural event affects a population, causing extensive destruction and social disruption (Alcántara-Ayala, 2002; Cannon & Twigg, 2003; Loughlin et al., 2015). The involvement of communities in disaster management actions, like the design of community emergency and evacuation plans can foster resilient communities, more capable to respond, recover and adapt to a disaster (Boyle, 2012; Bonati & Mendes, 2014; Cadag, et al., 2018; Levac et al., 2012). Disaster planning involvement can favor the community’s acceptance and compliance with the plans, determining their success (Cadag, et al., 2018; Tobin & Whiteford, 2002). Regarding volcanic eruptions, evacuation is the only life safeguard measure when there is the risk of pyroclastic flows, lahars, landslides, lava flows and volcanic gases (Wilson et al., 2012). Despite other factors, a successful evacuation requires the population to know the evacuation plan and to comply with the warning, which can be fostered through community involvement (Bird & Gísladóttir, 2012; Leonard et al., 2008). Thus, understanding community involvement in disaster planning for a volcanic eruption is vital. Place attachment and sense of community seem to influence community involvement, organized participation, and neighborhood improvement actions (Anton & Lawrence, 2014; Manzo & Perkins, 2006). This study relates place attachment and sense of community with the intentions to participate in disaster planning, namely in community evacuation planning for a volcanic eruption. A survey was applied to 443 residents in Vila Franca do Campo (Azores, Portugal), a municipality near Fogo volcano. A Chi-square test with Bonferroni correction (α = .025) was used. Intentions to participate in community evacuation planning are significantly associated with sense of community (X2 = 13.072, df = 2, N = 443, p = .001) and non-significantly associated with place attachment. These results can help community disaster planning and risk communication for a volcanic eruption.