NEHRP Clearinghouse

Title
Community Response to Earthquake Threat in Southern California. Part Six: Ethnic and Racial Differentials. Part Seven: Vulnerability Zones and Earthquake Subculture.
File
PB82116583.pdf
Author(s)
Turner, R. H.; Nigg, J. M.; Paz, D. H.; Young, B. S.
Source
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Engineering and Applied Science.; Geological Survey, Reston, VA., January 1981, 328 p.
Abstract
This volume is part of a study investigating individual and community response to earthquake threat in southern California. The overall objective is to provide a basis for understanding community response to earthquake predictions released to the public. This part of the study addresses the question of whether minority ethnic and racial groups view the threat of an earthquake differently from majority groups, and whether minority groups differ among themselves. Certain variables believed to affect such groups' responses to earthquake forecasts are examined. Described is a comparative study of Black and Mexican-American response to the prospect of a disastrous earthquake in southern California. The influence of a Spanish language newspaper, 'La Opinion,' is compared to that of English language newspapers to help understand differences in the exposure of Spanish-speaking and English-speaking residents to earthquake news and issues. Black, white Anglo-American, and Mexican-American populations are compared, and conclusions are drawn on their responses to earthquake threat.
Keywords
; Ethnic groups; Mass media; California; Attitudes; Public opinion; Behavior; Newsprint; Disasters; Negroes; Warning systems; Communities; Earthquakes