Emergency Preparedness and Risk Perception of High School Students: A Case Study of Gilgit Pakistan

Abstract

With increased likelihood of natural hazards, the tendency of vulnerable sections of society being exposed to them has increased manifolds. Students, being one of vulnerable groups, are also more prone to these natural hazards. This study, in one part, explores the gender dimensions of preparing for any emergency situations arising out of impending disasters that can hit schools in disaster prone areas. The existing body of literature shows that more work has to be done regarding emergency preparedness in schools particularly in the case of developing countries like Pakistan. Moreover, bifurcating dimensions like gender can be of great importance when developing a framework that can evaluate preparedness of schools in a situation of an emergency. The framework consisted of four components: Emergency Circulation and Evacuation, Search and Rescue, Support & Assistance, and Communication. These components then clustered to form overall gender-based –emergency-preparedness-index for high schools students. Risk perception is a vital constituent of disaster risk. It is a measure to assess predisposition of individuals to seek disaster preparedness measures. Understanding gendered risk perception in a multi-hazard environment is important for launching proper disaster risk reduction strategies. This study, in its second part, proposes a risk perception assessment methodology, and is operationalized in context of high school students in a multi-hazard area of Gilgit, Pakistan. Risk perception has been measured using four components, i.e., fear, attitude, awareness and trust. Indicators were identified using rigorous literature review, and index-based approach was used to calculate overall risk perception. Results have shown poor risk perception of high school students regarding natural hazards. Relatively, fear component scored highest among risk perception. The study has also observed significant differences in risk perception indicators. Chi-square and t-tests were employed to ascertain differences between two genders. This study highlights gender aspect must be incorporated in risk perception assessment, for better understanding the multifaceted nature of disaster risk. This study took Gilgit as case study area wish is geographically situated in a place more prone to Natural Hazards. High school level boys and girls are surveyed through quantitative survey design of structured-questionnaire. Slovin’s sampling method was used to identify sample size of 486 high school students, with 248 boys and 238 girls. Data was collected through structured questionnaires. Moreover, institutional challenges for school safety were studied using qualitative and quantitative data collection method, thereby employing content analysis and descriptive statistics to make school preparedness index and institutional-challenge-flow-diagram Other such studies can be conducted keeping in view age, school types and area differences. Key Words: Emergency Preparedness, Gender, Risk Perception, Disaster Management, School Safety