Disaster preparedness and risk perception in Southern Italy: context, beliefs and motivation in Messina 114 years after the disaster

More than 100 years have passed since 91% of the urban area of Messina was completely destroyed by the joint earthquake and tsunami in 1908. Although no survivor lives today, the issue of risk perception in the city of Messina, in Southern Italy, remains a topic of interest for its peculiar history with disasters and geological vulnerabilities. This study focused on the analysis of the risk perception (Priority 1 of the Sendai Framework 2015) of Messinese respondents, focusing on their personal characteristics and belief system to understand their level of interest and engagement in disaster preparedness. The analysis of the belief system, which included place attachment, risk perception, attitude, opinion of disaster preparedness, and trust in the authorities, gives an overview of the complexity of understanding risk perception in a local and cultural context. This study is intended to be the starting point of future discussion and qualitative studies.