Using operations research techniques determining the processes to provide earthquake awareness effectively

Turkey is located on the Alpine-Himalayan belt, which is one of the most geographically active earthquake zones and where approximately 20% of the earthquakes in the world are experienced. It is known that this active seismic belt creates a devastating earthquake on average every five years in Turkey. When examining the natural disasters that caused the most loss of life between 2000-2019, it is seen that six out of ten events were caused by earthquakes. The level of knowledge, awareness and awareness of individuals about earthquakes, taking precautions against earthquakes, and being prepared for earthquakes are frequently discussed and are the subject of scientific studies. The starting point of this research is how effective public institutions and organizations are in raising earthquake awareness, what kind of activities non-governmental organizations do related to earthquake disasters, and how individuals benefit from these studies. It should be stated that mass media and social media constitute important actors of this process. The main problem of the research is the question of how the awareness levels of individuals who have or do not have the necessary knowledge and awareness about earthquakes can be increased by which institutions, which tools and methods can be used, and how a more effective awareness level can be created. The aim of this study is to create effective scenarios for decision makers in raising earthquake awareness. It is suggested that DEMATEL method, one of the MCDM methods, is the most appropriate method in the creation of scenarios, since it shows the relationship diagrams of the factors in the decision problem. It is thought that this study will set a precedent for researchers about which technique to use and which scenarios will be more effective in terms of awareness that will be tried to be created in the future.