Community preparedness for natural hazards in two Chilean coastal cities

Chile is a country with high exposure to earthquakes and tsunamis. However, cities present different levels of community preparedness. Understanding the decision-making process for adopting preparedness measures is essential to motivating community participation while considering the local needs of each city. Considering the Protective Action Decision Model (PADM) to understand community preparedness, this study explores the role of risk perception, risk awareness, and trust in authorities in community preparedness in two coastal cities in Chile. A sample of 1093 inhabitants of two coastal cities, Valparaíso and Concepción, participated in the study. The results indicate significant differences between coastal cities' preparedness levels and their determinants, particularly risk perception and awareness. Despite these differences, our results show that trust in authorities is related to Chile's community preparedness levels in both locations.