A STUDY ON INHABITANTS' INTENTION FOR RESIDENTIAL EARTHQUAKE SAFETY MEASURES

In order to examine closely inhabitants' intention for residential earthquake safety measures, we conducted a questionnaire survey targeting the citizens of Shizuoka city, Chiba city and Mito city. Based on the obtained data, we grasped the respondents' seismic risk perception and behavior for earthquake safety of their houses. We also examined the effect of informing some knowledge related to residential earthquake safety on their intention to retrofit their house. Some important findings are as follows:- The strength of inhabitants' intention to take earthquake safety measures is not necessarily depended on their expectation as to when a big earthquake will occur or how serious damage they will suffer because of it.- In order to promote residential safety, it is more important to inform the inhabitants the cost and effectiveness of the measures than to emphasize seismic hazard in their region or fragility of their houses.