Citation

Taylan A. Int. J. Disaster Risk Reduct. 2015; 13: 414-426.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijdrr.2015.08.006

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In Turkey, seismic risk reduction in urban areas has gained significance since 1999 Marmara Earthquakes. As the launched legislations could not be integrated into land-use planning in a comprehensive way, homeowners has made the prior responsible for risk reduction. However, the factors that influence or constraint their risk reduction behavior in a voluntary environment are not known. This study intended to search out these factors to envisage suitable policies. Regarding the self-protective theories and their implementation in the natural hazard filed, the research has assessed the factors influencing homeowners' decision process for adopting risk mitigation measures. A questionnaire survey is designed and implemented in Zeytinburnu district of Istanbul. Accordingly, taking necessary measures seemed to be affected by house maintenance expenditure, house value and perceived responsibility of central government directly, whereas perceived losses and having children were likely to increase the reluctance of respondents. Based on the findings, linking house maintenance credits with adoption of risk mitigation measures, increasing house value with certification of buildings for adopting measures and providing special credits to homeowners with children can motivate homeowners for taking these measures. Moreover, community based risk mitigation programs that increase perceived responsibility of central government and district municipality can reduce the fatalistic behavior and unwillingness.