PSI - Issue 78

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

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while roughly one-third believe they are exposed to cyber threats. However, Italy is the only country in the EU where geological risks (landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.) are considered the top priority, cited by 56% of survey respondents; in second place there are extreme weather events (52%), while floods rank third (48%). A critical situation emerges when respondents are asked whether they trust the information provided by public authorities and emergency services. Significant differences are observed among European countries, with Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, the Net herlands, etc.) where trust levels exceed 90%. Italy’s position is particularly concerning, ranking second to last among the 28 EU member states, with only 58% expressing trust. Similarly, when asked how much citizens expect to rely on emergency services in the emergency, Italy shows an absolute trust level of 34%, ranking only 19th, compared to a European average of 39%, with Malta at the top at 62%. An opposite trend is observed when citizens are asked how much they expect to rely on volunteer organizations during an emergency. In this case, 29% of Italians express absolute trust, placing Italy sixth in Europe, compared to an average of 23%, with Portugal ranking first at 40%. The importance of volunteering in Italy is also evident when citizens are asked whether they intend to engage in volunteer activities in the near future. Italy records the highest percentage in Europe, with 19% of respondents stating their intention to participate in volunteer initiatives, compared to a European average of 10%, and the lowest rates in countries such as Malta (5%) and Denmark (4%), which generally show higher levels of institutional trust. These findings allow for some significant reflections. First, there has been an increase in risk perception in recent years (Avvisati et al. 2019; Eurobarometer 547, 2024) compared to what was found about a decade ago (Ricci et al. 2013; Crescimbene et al. 2014; Calvello et al. 2016). Therefore, it can be acknowledged that awareness campaigns on natural hazards carried out over the past 10 years have contributed to increasing citizens' awareness. An interesting finding from Eurobarometer 547 (2024) is that Italy is the only country where geological risk is perceived as a top priority, followed by extreme weather events and floods. This consideration does not seem to be coincidental, given that the main national communication campaign on natural risk (INR) started in 2011 specifically with earthquake risk and was extended to flood risk in 2014. It is therefore plausible to assume that the “ Io non rischio ” campaign has played a significant role in raising public awareness, directing attention to the hazards (e.g., earthquake) that have been the focus of dissemination efforts. While an increase in risk awareness has emerged, limited emergency preparedness has also been observed. Therefore, to bridge this gap, it is mandatory to develop strategies that foster the transformation of awareness into concrete actions. Practical training initiatives, direct meetings with students in schools and with people in workplaces, community centers, etc., could help improve preparedness levels and the propensity to take preventive measures. Additionally, the evolution of communication tools provides an opportunity to effectively disseminate information with special attention to clarity and accuracy. The use of social media to share interactive content, videos, etc., could facilitate the spread of a culture of prevention, especially among age groups that use these tools daily. Last but not least, a fundamental aspect is strengthening trust between institutions, local communities, and citizens (Pescaroli et al. 2024), which remains particularly fragile in Italy. In this context, the scientific community can play a central role. In recent years, it has made significant progress in communication, promoting dissemination based on scientific evidence and aimed at combating misinformation and fake news. Another key element is volunteering, which in Italy has a high level of trust among the population. Volunteerism can serve as a bridge between citizens, institutions, and the scientific community. Its widespread presence across the territories enables it to adapt to local specificities, making it a strategic tool for active community engagement. Only through effective synergy among all involved actors (institutions, experts, volunteers, stakeholders and citizens) we can strengthen the civil protection system’s capacity to respond adequately to emergencies and build a more resilient community. 5. Conclusions In a territory exposed to multiple risks, communication plays an essential role in promoting prevention activities, which are crucial for strengthening citizens’ preparedness and mitigating the impact of disasters. In this regard, the present paper provides an overview of the main risk communication activities adopted in Italy, starting with the analysis of key factors that influence risk perception and affect the willingness to undertake preventive actions.