PSI - Issue 78

Andrea Digrisolo et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 761–768

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campaign has established a government website (INR) and maintains a presence on all the major social media platforms. All these efforts make it possible to reach diverse segments of the population. When thinking about the emergency phase, an important tool developed by the Italian Civil Protection to alert the population is the IT-alert system (https://www.it-alert.it/en/). This system, leveraging mobile phone technology, reaches citizens within a specific geographical area affected by an emergency. Currently, IT-alert is operational for risks related to nuclear accidents or radiological emergency situations, major accidents at industrial facilities, collapse of a large dam, volcanic activity in the Campi Flegrei area, Vesuvio and the island of Vulcano, while it is still in the testing phase for risks related to earthquake-generated tsunami, Stromboli volcanic activity and heavy rainfall. It is worth underlining that IT-alert informs citizens about a potential risk, but this alone is not enough. The website says that people receiving the message must be aware of the risks, which stems from knowing the area, having civil protection plans, and behaving properly in emergencies. In other words, to effectively manage risks, it is crucial that citizens know what actions to take. That is why IT- alert complements the “ I o non rischio” initiatives , which educate people on how to behave before, during and after a disaster event. 4. Analysis of people's risk preparedness with focus on Italian and European citizens The significant impact of natural hazards on Italian territory calls for a critical reflection not only on institutional response strategies, but also on the capacity of communities to respond. Analyzing the population's level of preparedness is a priority, as it serves as a key indicator of collective resilience. The literature analysis shows that numerous authors have attempted to quantify and understand risk perception within communities. For example, to assess risk perception and awareness among residents of the Campi Flegrei area, a survey was conducted (Ricci et al. 2013). The results highlighted a general lack of awareness regarding local risks, which appears to be primarily attributable to the very low level of information received by the population. Similarly, a study based on more than 5,000 online tests aimed at assessing seismic risk perception in Italy (Crescimbene et al. 2014) revealed a significant underestimation of seismic risk. In fact, 86% of citizens living in seismic zone 1 (OPCM 3274) do not have an accurate perception of the risk, despite claiming to be fairly well informed. This discrepancy may be attributed to risk communication that has proven to be ineffective or perceived as not entirely reliable, failing to fully convey awareness and to emotionally engage the people. Limited awareness of risks has also been observed in areas already affected by natural disasters, specifically in landslide-prone regions (Calvello et al. 2016). This deficiency is largely attributed to the lack of adequate risk information and communication. The low preparedness of communities was found in a study focused on the perception of the main hazards present in Campania (Avvisati et al. 2019). Although greater awareness of the natural hazards present emerges in this case, local communities appear to be poorly prepared to deal with them effectively. This shows that the goal of a truly prepared society has been only partially achieved: on one hand, communities show fair knowledge of present hazards; on the other hand, they struggle to translate this awareness into effective corrective measures. One of the most recent and relevant documents for analyzing European citizens' awareness and preparedness for disaster risks is the Special Eurobarometer 547 (2024), which focuses on the 13 most widespread risks across the continent. The findings provide an up-to- date overview of citizens’ awareness, preparedness, and needs, also offering valuable insights to guide future risk communication campaigns. First and foremost, a strong awareness of the importance of preparedness has emerged among the population; indeed, approximately three-quarters of respondents believe that adequate preparedness can enhance their capacity to manage emergency situations. However, two-thirds of respondents indicate that they need more information to be effectively prepared. This highlights a significant information gap and the need to implement strategies to facilitate the dissemination of essential information. In fact, when citizens are asked whether they feel well-informed about the risks that might affect them, nearly half of respondents across Europe answer affirmatively, with percentages ranging from 90% in Sweden to 28% in Portugal. However, Italy finds itself in an unfavorable position, ranking third from last, with only 33% of the population considering themselves well-informed. The low level of information among Italians is also evident when asked whether “it is easy to find information about risks provided by public authorities” : only 44% of Italians respond positively, compared to a European average of 54%, placing Italy fifth from last. Looking at individual risks, half of the survey respondents believe their country is most at risk from extreme weather events (violent storms, droughts, heatwaves, or cold waves). About 44% think their country is at risk of floods,