Europeans need more information to prepare for emergencies, says Eurobarometer survey

The European Commission has published the results of an opinion poll showing that the majority of EU citizens feel that they need more information to prepare for disasters and emergencies. In addition, the survey showed that citizens feel most exposed to risks related to the impact of climate change, but also to social and security risks.

The recent Eurobarometer survey asked citizens in the 27 Member States about their perceptions of exposure to disaster risk, their level of knowledge and the resources they use to inform themselves about disaster risk. They were also asked how prepared they are for disasters and how much they trust emergency services and authorities.

Citizens in 17 Member States feel particularly exposed to extreme weather events, such as storms, droughts and heat waves. Respondents feel most exposed to forest fires in Portugal and Cyprus, and to floods in Bulgaria. Responses were significantly different in Sweden, Denmark and the Czech Republic, where cybersecurity threats are high on the list. Political or geopolitical tensions are of most concern in Germany, critical infrastructure disruptions in Estonia and, in terms of perceived personal exposure, health emergencies in Finland.

Further information: European Commission