Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Seismic Risk and Adaptive Capacity to Earthquake: The Case of Anse-à-Veau (Haiti)

  • Garry Jourdan Department of Geography University of Namur (Unamur) Institute of Life, Earth, and Environment (ILEE)
  • Michelet Clerveau Institut Supérieur de Recherches et d'Études en Sciences Sociales (ISERSS), Port-au-Prince, Haïti State University of Haiti (UEH)
  • Wisly Dieujuste Institut Supérieur de Recherches et d'Études en Sciences Sociales (ISERSS), Port-au-Prince, Haïti State University of Haiti (UEH)
  • Sabine Henry Department of Geography University of Namur (Unamur) Institute of Life, Earth, and Environment (ILEE)
Keywords: Risk perception, adaptive capacity perception, stakeholders, earthquake, Haiti

Abstract

Earthquakes were responsible for more than half of all natural disaster deaths worldwide between 2000 and 2019. Populations in developing countries are the most affected. What can help stakeholders to increase people adaptive capacity to earthquake in a context of very limited financial resources?The perception of seismic risk by the stakeholders and the perception of their adaptive capacity seemed to be able to influence the stakeholder’s adaptive capacity to earthquakes as well as that of the population. Haiti, a country at risk of earthquakes and ranked among the poorest in the world, is a relevant place to explore the potential people adaptive capacity to earthquake. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 21 stakeholders in the Town of Anse-à-Veau, in 2020 to focus on their perceptions of risk and adaptive capacity, just one year before an earthquake in the region.Results show that stakeholders were mostly aware of earthquake risk. This was identified by their perception of seismic risk related to the zone and the perception of their adaptative capacity to deal with earthquakes. Respondents perceived some drivers such as self-capacity, motivation and self-responsibility can increase their adaptive capacity. Some temporal and physical factors have been highlighted as constraints to stakeholders’ adaptive capacity to earthquake.As expected, training, awareness, and appropriate constructions were identified as effective ways to increase the adaptive capacity of stakeholders and the one of the local populations to earthquakes. Surprisingly, earthquake unpredictability was seen as a barrier but also as a motivation for preparedness. Thus, this observation must be examined to find in which way it can facilitate adaptive capacity or not.Human resources are targeted as the main resource to cope with an earthquake. Also, training and awareness were recognized as means to increase stakeholders’ adaptive capacity and the one of the local populations to deal with such an event despite the limited financial resources.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

1. Arlikatti, Sudha, Michael K. Lindell, and Carla S. Prater. 2007. “Perceived Stakeholder Role Relationships and Adoption of Seismic Hazard Adjustments.” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters Vol. 25 (3): 218–56.
2. Bandura, Albert. 1982. “Self-Efficacy Mechanism in Human Agency,” 26.
3. Benjamin, Francklin, Katiana Jean, Renando Antoine, Marc Prou, Max Millien, Ketty Balthazard-Accou, and Evens Emmanuel. 2021. “COVID-19: Perception of the Pandemic and the Importance of Barrier Measures by the Fruit and Vegetable Sellers of Port-Au-Prince.” European Scientific Journal ESJ 17 (5). https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2021.v17n5p165.
4. Bétard, François, and Monique Fort. 2014. “Les risques liés à la nature et leur gestion dans les Suds.” Bulletin de l’Association de géographes français 91 (3): 231–40. https://doi.org/10.4000/bagf.1571.
5. Brooks, Nick. 2003a. “Vulnerability, Risk and Adaptation: A Conceptual Framework,” 20.
6. Corbet, Alice, Laure Fallou, Nixon Calixte, Laennec Hurbon, and Eric Calais. 2023. “From a Seismological Network to a Socio- Seismological One: A Citizen Science Experiment in Haïti to Reduce Seismic Risk: Analysis of a ‘Small Box’ That Can Do a Lot.” Citizen Science: Theory and Practice 8 (1): 2. https://doi.org/10.5334/cstp.481.
7. Deng, Yan, Guiwu Su, Na Gao, and Lei Sun. 2019. “Perceptions of Earthquake Emergency Response and Rescue in China: A Comparison between Experts and Local Practitioners.” Natural Hazards 97 (2): 643–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-019-03663-8.
8. Engle, Nathan L. 2011. “Adaptive Capacity and Its Assessment.” Global Environmental Change 21 (2): 647–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.01.019.
9. Entrikin, J. Nicholas, and John H. Tepple. 2006. “Humanism and Democratic Place-Making,” Approaches to human geography, 30–41.
10. Friedman, Andrew L., and Samantha Miles. 2006. Stakeholders: Theory and Practice. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.
11. Gaillard, J. C., Jake Rom D. Cadag, and Mercy M. F. Rampengan. 2019. “People’s Capacities in Facing Hazards and Disasters: An Overview.” Natural Hazards 95 (3): 863–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3519-1.
12. Grothmann, Torsten, and Anthony Patt. 2005. “Adaptive Capacity and Human Cognition: The Process of Individual Adaptation to Climate Change.” Global Environmental Change 15 (3): 199–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2005.01.002.
13. Henry, Sabine, Sébastien Dujardin, Elisabeth Henriet, and Sofa Costa Santos Baltazar. 2022. “Qualitative Data and Approaches to Population–Environment Inquiry,” International Handbook of Population and Environment., 10: 139–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76433-3.
14. IFR and RCS. 2012. “Earthquakes Guidelines on Preparing, Responding and Recovering.” Genava: Koninklijke Brill NV. https://doi.org/10.1163/2210-7975_HRD-9813-2015012.
15. IHSI. 2015. “Population Totale 18 Ans et plus, Ménages et Densités En 2015.” Port-au-Prince.
16. ISDR. 2008. “Indigenous Knowledge for Disaster Risk Reduction: Good Practices and Lessons Learned from Experiences in the Asia-Pacific Region.”
17. Joffe, Helene, Tiziana Rossetto, Christian Solberg, and Cliodhna O’Connor. 2013. “Social Representations of Earthquakes: A Study of People Living in Three Highly Seismic Areas.” Earthquake Spectra 29 (2): 367–97. https://doi.org/10.1193/1.4000138.
18. Lindell, Michael K., Sudha Arlikatti, and Carla S. Prater. 2009. “Why People Do What They Do to Protect Against Earthquake Risk: Perceptions of Hazard Adjustment Attributes.” Risk Analysis 29 (8): 1072–88. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2009.01243.x.
19. Lindell, Michael K., and Ronald W. Perry. 2000a. “Household Adjustment to Earthquake Hazard: A Review of Research.” Environment and Behavior 32 (4): 461–501. https://doi.org/10.1177/00139160021972621.
20. Llorente-Marrón, Mar, Montserrat Díaz-Fernández, Paz Méndez-Rodríguez, and Rosario González Arias. 2020. “Social Vulnerability, Gender and Disasters. The Case of Haiti in 2010.” Sustainability 12 (9): 3574. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093574.
21. Lopez-Ramirez, Ernesto Octavio, Guadalupe Elizabeth Morales-Martinez, Yanko Norberto Mezquita-Hoyos, and Luis Rodolfo Patino-Munguia. 2019. “Perceived Self Efficacy To Cope With Earthquakes.” Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, no. 8: 14.
22. López-Vázquez, Esperanza, and Maria Luisa Marván. 2003. “RISK PERCEPTION, STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES IN TWO CATASTROPHE RISK SITUATIONS.” Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal 31 (1): 61–70. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2003.31.1.61.
23. Lundgren, Madeleine, and Veronica Strandh. 2022. “Navigating a Double Burden – Floods and Social Vulnerability in Local Communities in Rural Mozambique.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 77 (July): 103023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103023.
24. Martins, Ivan Machado, and Maria A. Gasalla. 2020. “Adaptive Capacity Level Shapes Social Vulnerability to Climate Change of Fishing Communities in the South Brazil Bight.” Frontiers in Marine Science 7 (July): 481. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00481.
25. Massazza, Alessandro, Chris R. Brewin, and Helene Joffe. 2019. “The Nature of ‘Natural Disasters’: Survivors’ Explanations of Earthquake Damage.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Science 10 (3): 293–305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-019-0223-z.
26. Mathieu, Philippe, Jean Arsène Constant, Josué Noel, and Bobby Piard. 2003. “Cartes et Étude de Risques, de La Vulnérabilité et Des Capacités de Réponse En Haïti.” Oxfam International.
27. Morin, Marc. 2008. Concepts de base en sécurité civile. Québec: Sécurité civile Québec.
28. Mortreux, Colette, and Jon Barnett. 2017. “Adaptive Capacity: Exploring the Research Frontier.” WIREs Climate Change 8 (4). https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.467.
29. Mulilis, John-Paul, and Richard Lippa. 1990. “Behavioral Change in Earthquake Preparedness Due to Negative Threat Appeals: A Test of Protection Motivation Theory.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 20 (8): 619–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1990.tb00429.x.
30. Ncube, Alice, Precious T. Mangwaya, and Abiodun A. Ogundeji. 2018. “Assessing Vulnerability and Coping Capacities of Rural Women to Drought: A Case Study of Zvishavane District, Zimbabwe.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 28 (June): 69–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.02.023.
31. Nicoll, K., and TJ Cova. 2016. “Http://Www.Omicsgroup.Org/Journals/Open-Letter-to-Mr-Bill-Gates-on-Energy-Miracle-2167-0587-1000167.Php?Aid=73984.” Journal of Geography & Natural Disasters 6 (2). https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0587.1000168.
32. Paillé, Pierre, and Alex Mucchielli. 2008. Analyse qualitative en sciences humaines et sociales. 2eme edition. Collection U. Paris: Armand Colin.
33. Paul, Bimal Kanti, and Rejuan Hossain Bhuiyan. 2010. “Urban Earthquake Hazard: Perceived Seismic Risk and Preparedness in Dhaka City, Bangladesh.” Disasters 34 (2): 337–59. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7717.2009.01132.x.
34. PDNA-Haïti. 2010. “Evaluation Des Dommages, Des Pertes et Des Besoins Généraux et Sectoriels.”
35. Renn, Ortwin. 1990. “Risk Perception and Risk Management : A Review. Pt. 1, Risk Perception.” https://doi.org/10.18419/OPUS-7299.
36. Scherer, J. 1912. “Great Earthquakes in the Island of Haiti.” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 2 (3): 161–80. https://doi.org/10.1785/BSSA0020030161.
37. Shapira, Stav, Limor Aharonson-Daniel, and Yaron Bar-Dayan. 2018. “Anticipated Behavioral Response Patterns to an Earthquake: The Role of Personal and Household Characteristics, Risk Perception, Previous Experience and Preparedness.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 31 (October): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.04.001.
38. Solberg, C., T. Rossetto, and H. Joffe. 2010. “The Social Psychology of Seismic Hazard Adjustment: Re-Evaluating the International Literature.” Natural Hazards and Earth System Science 10 (8): 1663–77. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-10-1663-2010.
39. Tekeli-Yeşil, Sıdıka, Necati Dedeoǧlu, Marcel Tanner, Charlotte Braun-Fahrlaender, and Birgit Obrist. 2010. “Individual Preparedness and Mitigation Actions for a Predicted Earthquake in Istanbul.” Disasters 34 (4): 910–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7717.2010.01175.x.
40. Thomas, Isabelle, and Alexandre Gagnon. 2019. “Coaticook : Analyse scientifique de la vulnérabilité intégrant l’implication des acteurs locaux et citoyens pour une ville et une communauté plus résiliente.” Risques urbains 3 (1). https://doi.org/10.21494/ISTE.OP.2019.0319.
41. Tuladhar, Gangalal, Ryuichi Yatabe, Ranjan Kumar Dahal, and Netra Prakash Bhandary. 2015. “Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge of Local People in Nepal.” Geoenvironmental Disasters 2 (1): 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-014-0011-4.
42. UNDRR. 2019. “Human Cost of Disasters. An Overview of Last 20 Years (2010-2019).” UNDRR.
43. USGS. 2012. “Accounts of Damage from Historical Earthquakes in the Northeastern Caribbean, to Aid in the Determination of Their Location and Intensity Magnitudes.” Open-File Report. Open-File Report.
44. Yohe, Gary, and Richard S J Tol. 2002. “Indicators for Social and Economic Coping Capacity Moving toward a Working Definition of Adaptive Capacity.” Global Environmental Change, 16.
45. Yu, Junlei, Akihiko Hokugo, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Architecture, Kobe University, and Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan. 2015. “Understanding Household Mobilization Time During Natech Accident Evacuation.” Journal of Disaster Research 10 (5): 973–80. https://doi.org/10.20965/jdr.2015.p0973.
46. Yu, Junlei, Timothy Sim, Chunlan Guo, Ziqiang Han, Jocelyn Lau, and Guiwu Su. 2019. “Household Adaptation Intentions to Earthquake Risks in Rural China.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 40 (November): 101253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101253.
Published
2023-11-27
How to Cite
Jourdan, G., Clerveau, M., Dieujuste, W., & Henry, S. (2023). Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Seismic Risk and Adaptive Capacity to Earthquake: The Case of Anse-à-Veau (Haiti). European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 23, 519. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/17462
Section
ESI Preprints