Europeans believe they need more information to prepare for emergencies: Eurobarometer survey

BRUSSELS: The European Commission today published a Special Eurobarometer survey revealing that the majority of EU citizens believe they need more information to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters. This survey asked respondents from all 27 EU Member States about their perceived risks, disaster preparedness, and trust in emergency services. The findings showed that extreme weather events, such as storms, droughts, and heatwaves, were the top concerns for people in 17 Member States. Other perceived risks include wildfires, particularly in Portugal and Cyprus, and floods in Bulgaria. Cybersecurity threats were more prominent in countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Czechia, while political tensions and infrastructure disruptions were key concerns in Germany and Estonia, respectively. Nearly two-thirds of EU citizens expressed a need for better information to prepare for emergencies, and over one-third faced difficulties accessing relevant information from public authorities. Additionally, the sur vey found that almost 40 percent of respondents lacked the time or financial resources to adequately prepare for emergencies. Interestingly, while EU citizens largely trust emergency services, they also reported relying more on family and friends for support during disasters, rather than on NGOs or government agencies. Only 7 percent of respondents currently engage in voluntary activities aimed at improving disaster resilience. Source: Emirates News Agency