Disaster risk perception and disaster preparedness of the society: Bingöl example

This research evaluates the potential earthquake risk perception in Bingöl province by considering the risk society theory framework. The study offers a comprehensive approach to the individual and social perception of natural disasters such as earthquakes. Bingöl, located at the intersection of Turkey's most active fault lines, has a history shaped by major earthquakes and has a critical importance in disaster management strategies with both its physical and social vulnerabilities. In this context, Ulrich Beck's risk society theory, which argues that risks shaped by modernization have moved from a local to a global dimension, is taken as a basis. In addition, Anthony Giddens' perspective emphasizing the distribution of risks in daily life also contributes to the theoretical frameworks of the elements. A quantitative method was used in the research and data was collected online using the Google Form web2 tool. Individuals aged 18 and over residing in Bingöl province participated in the survey on a voluntary basis. The collected data were analyzed with the SPSS program and the proportions between risk perception, anxiety level and pre-earthquake preparedness were evaluated. The study evaluated the effects of demographic variables such as gender, age, education level, marital status, duration of residence in Bingöl and past earthquakes on risk perception. The findings show that there is a high earthquake risk perception, but this perception does not always translate into preparation work. In addition, a strong relationship was found between risk perception and anxiety level. The study reveals that earthquakes are not limited to physical destructions, but also deepen social inequalities, disrupt economic development and cause chain problems in international systems. This association, Beck's "boomerang effects", emphasizes that a disaster occurring at the local level can lead to economic and social consequences at the global level. In addition to understanding the content of risk perception in Bingöl province, the study also offers suggestions to shed light on the development of effective disaster management policies for local governments and civil society organizations.