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Spanish firefighters talk and get information for the coming days at their basecamp in Roberval, Quebec.

New EU Eurobarometer on disaster awareness and preparedness of EU citizens

By Knowledge Network – Staff memberPublished on

A new Eurobarometer survey which looked into the levels of disaster risk awareness and preparedness of the EU population shows that almost two-thirds of citizens (65%) believe they need more information to prepare for disasters and emergencies.

When asked about which risks they think their countries are most exposed to, EU citizens express particular concerns about extreme weather events (such as storms, droughts, heat/cold waves) and floods, as well as cybersecurity and geopolitical instability threats. Beyond EU averages, the survey also reveals that perceptions may vary, in some cases significantly, among countries. For instance, citizens of Portugal and Cyprus feel most vulnerable to wildfires, while residents of Sweden, Denmark and Czechia are more worried about cybersecurity threats compared to other risk factors. 

Preparedness for Disaster Scenarios 

When it comes to preparedness for various disaster scenarios, the survey reveals that many EU citizens are not fully equipped to face extended emergencies. When Europeans were asked whether they could cope for more than seven days with the consequence of emergencies leading to a disruption in the provision of basic services and before emergency authorities could reach them to provide support: 

  • 34% of respondents say they could sustain regular medical treatment if there was a disruption in the supply of medicines. 
  • 29% believe they could provide meals for their household if there were disruptions to food transportation in their area. 
  • 20% say they could continue cooking meals or heating their home using alternative sources for more than seven days. 
  • 14% feel they could meet their water needs (for drinking, cooking, and hygiene). 
  • 10% say they could power essential appliances and lighting in their home if electricity services were interrupted. 

Engagement in Voluntary work  

The survey also looked at public participation in voluntary work supporting emergency responder organisations or community-based initiatives aimed at improving disaster resilience. Most EU citizens (64%) have never taken part in such voluntary work and do not plan to. However, a smaller but a notable percentage have either been involved in the past (19%) or plan to volunteer in the future (9%). Currently, only 7% of EU citizens are actively participating in voluntary work related to disaster preparedness or response. 

Strong confidence in emergency responders  

Confidence in emergency responders remains strong as most people across the EU trust them to handle crises (70% of citizens agree that they trust information from public authorities and emergency services on disaster risks in the area where they live), yet the survey shows that during emergencies, people often seek help from family and friends (89%) before turning to official services or local authorities.  

Read the full results and breakdown by country here: DG ECHO information on Eurobarometers

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Sectors

Resilience Risk reduction & assessment

Thematic series

Prevention and preparedness activities