The current study aimed to examine two potential positive outcomes of an earthquake experience, namely posttraumatic growth (PTG) and earthquake preparedness behavior. Variables that may be related to PTG and earthquake preparedness behavior were examined after earthquake victimization by using two models, which were the Person Relative to Event (PrE) Model (Mulilis &amp / Duval, 1997) to understand earthquake preparedness behavior, and Model of Life Crises and Personal Growth (Schaefer &amp / Moos, 1992) to understand PTG. In order to examine earthquake preparedness behavior, the roles of demographic variables, event-related variables, cognitive appraisal factors, and coping strategies, and in order to examine PTG, environmental factors, system factors, event related factors, earthquake specific coping and cognitive appraisal factors, and general ways of coping responses factors were examined. Data was collected by a questionnaire consisting of three parts. The first part was a socio-demographic information form. The second part of the questionnaire included set of items designed to examine past earthquake experience, the severity of past earthquake experience and reasons to prepare for a possible future earthquake. The third part of the questionnaire consisted of eight scales. These scales were Ways of Coping Inventory (WCI) to measure coping strategies used in stressful situations, Revised and Translated Mulilis-Lippa Earthquake Preparedness Scale (MLEPS) to measure the level of earthquake preparedness behavior, perceived difficulty and perceived effectiveness of being prepared, Religiousness Scale (RS) to measure the level of religious resources of participants, The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to measure perceived adequacy of social support, The Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL) to measure the quality of life of the participants, Psychological Well-Being Scale to measure the level of psychological well-being of participants, Traumatic Stress Symptom Checklist (TSSC) to measure posttraumatic stress, and Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) to measure stress-related growth. One hundred ninety nine adults (105 females and 94 males with an age range of 18 to 73) were participants of the study. The participants were from Kaynasli, D&uuml / zce. The participants were selected on the basis of their age, gender, and the type of their houses. They were contacted through home visits. In the result section, the level of the different categories of earthquake preparedness behavior, self-efficacy and outcome efficacy / the reasons of preparedness and nonpreparedness for earthquakes, the variables related to earthquake preparedness behavior and PTG were presented. Hierarchical regression analysis results revealed that perceived responsibility to prepare for earthquakes, outcome efficacy, and problem-focused coping were positively and posttraumatic stress was negatively related to earthquake preparedness behavior. As a result of the regression analysis, it was found that being married, perceived social support, well-being, problem-focused coping, and seeking social support coping were significant predictors of the level of PTG. The results of regression analysis also showed that, general problem focused coping was more efficient than earthquake specific active coping after earthquake victimization for the development of PTG. The results of the study were discussed within the relevant literature, shortcomings of the current study, clinical implications and suggestions for future research were proposed.

This study examined some factors to understand earthquake preparedness behavior. The roles of demoghraphic characteristics of the participants, trait anxiety, the severity of exposure of past earthquake experience, outcome efficacy (perceived effectiveness of preparedness), self efficacy (perceived difficulty of preparedness), impact of past experience (avoidance and intrusion symptom levels of impact of event scale), threat perception, locus of control and four factors of coping strategies (problem focused approach, fatalistic coping, helplessness/self blaming approach and seeking social support) in predicting earthquake preparedness behavior were studied. Data was collected by a questionnaire consisting of three parts. The first part was a socio-demographic information form. The second part of the questionnaire included sets of items designed to examine past earthquake experience, the severity of past earthquake experience, estimations of the severity of a possible future earthquake, probability of occurence of a potential future earthquake, reasons to prepare and responsibility related to preparedness. The third part of the questionnaire consisted of four scales. These scales were Ways of Coping Inventory (WCI) to measure coping strategies in stressful situations, Impact of Event Scale (IES) to measure current subjective distress trait part of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to measure the level of trait anxiety of persons and Revised and Translated Mulilis- Lippa Earthquake Preparedness Scale (MLEPS) to measure the level of earthquake preparedness behavior, perceived difficulty of being prepared and perceived effectiveness of being prepared. Two hundred eighteen adults (120 females and 98 males with an age range of 20 to 67) were participants of the study. There were participants from all 32 districts of istanbul in the sample. Data was collected in two departments of Istanbul Technical University, which were architecture and civil engineering, Psychology Department of Middle East Technical University, High School of KabataS Erkek Lisesi and istanbul Bah&ccedil / elievler Primary School. Participants were parents of students. The regression analysis results revealed that, severity of exposure of past earthquake experience, avoidance, self-efficacy and outcome efficacy were found to be significantly related to earthquake preparedness. Considering significant predictors, the severity of the exposure to past earthquake experience and perceived effectiveness of being prepared increases the level of earthquake preparedness behavior / perceived difficulty of being prepared and avoidance symptom levels of impact of event scale decreases it. As an evidence to Person Relative to Event Model, the results of the current study showed that there is a significant relationship between both perceived effectiveness of being prepared and perceived difficulty of being prepared with the level of earthquake preparedness level. The importance of the results of the current study and their shortcomings were discussed within the earlier findings on disaster preparedness literature.

Approximately 43% of Canada’s population reside in urban centres at most seismic risk.This research creates practical and proactive tools to support decision making in emergency management regarding earthquake risk. This proactive approach evaluates the potential impact of future earthquakes for informed mitigation and preparedness decisions. The overall aims are to evaluate a community’s operational readiness, reveal limitations and resources gaps in the emergency plan, test potential mitigation and preparedness strategies and provide a realistic earthquake scenario for training activities. Two models, the CanRisk injury model and a disaster Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS), were designed and developed to further evaluate seismic risk on a community scale. The injury model is an extension of the engineering-based CanRisk tool and quantifies an individual’s risk to injury, the number of injuries, and provides an injury profile of life-threatening injuries at the building scale. The model implements fuzzy synthetic evaluation to quantify seismic risk, mathematical calculations to estimate number of injuries, and a decision-matrix to generate the injury profile. The SDSS is an evidence-based model that is designed for the planning phase to evaluate post-earthquake emergency response. Loss estimations from Hazus Canada and the CanRisk injury model are combined with community geospatial data to simulate post-earthquake conditions that are important for immediate post-earthquake response. Fire services, search and rescue operations (including urban search and rescue and police services), emergency medical services, and relief operations are all modelled. A case study was applied to 27 neighbourhoods in Ottawa, Canada, using a M6.0 and M7.25 scenarios. The models revealed challenges to all emergency response units. A critical threshold exists between the M6.0 and M7.25 scenarios whereby emergency response moves from partial but manageable functionality to a complete system breakdown. The models developed in this research show great utility to emergency managers in Canada.