The KNOWRISK project: when communication becomes prevention

Abstract

Prevention can positively intrude culture only if access to experts’ knowledge is facilitated. On the other hand progress in seismic performance and even legal regulatory provisions can be more effective if the stakeholders are aware of the associated risks and benefits. Standing from these ideas, KnowRISK (Know your city, Reduce seISmic risK through non-structural elements) supports disaster reduction relying on risk communication. KnowRISK is a project financed by the European Commission, under the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Humanitarian Operation, that addresses mitigation of non-structural component (NSC) damage caused by earthquakes in selected pilot areas belonging to the three participating countries, namely Portugal, Italy, and Iceland. Often neglected by experts, significance of damage to NSCs is largely unknown to the public, specifically concerning costs and benefits associated to actions that can reduce their vulnerability. “If the house doesn’t collapse, I will be safe” is a major fallacies among common citizens. Factors acting as barriers to the adoption of NSCs seismic protection need to be carefully addressed to understand why even solutions that might require low efforts, and costs, do not receive due attention. KnowRISK considered the direct engagement of public into the process of communication to be a good way to tackle this issue. KnowRISK tasks are grouped into: 1) a Research for Action block that produces the input of knowledge to be delivered to communities in the participating countries and activate an 2) Action for Prevention block.