Citation

Santos-Reyes J, Gouzeva T. Environ. Res. 2020; 186: e109482.

Affiliation

Grupo de Investigación SARACS, SEPI-ESIME, Zac., Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CDMX, 07738, Mexico.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.envres.2020.109482

PMID

32283339

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a cross-sectional study conducted in Mexico City following the earthquake that occurred on September 19, 2017. The sample size of the study was N = 2400. The aim has been the study of people's emotional and behavioural responses during and immediately after the tremors. Some of the results and conclusions were the following: a). During the tremors, respondents coping reactions were related to escape, reaching and protecting people, and seeking shelter; b). The actions taken by the respondents immediately after the tremor were reuniting with family members, evacuation, and returning to houses; c). The emotional responses of the participants of the study were fear and surprise; d). The capital city's residents exhibited a relatively high percentage of prosocial behaviour during the seismic emergency response; e). More generally, the residents of the city should be trained on what to do during and after the tremors; moreover, key decision-makers should consider people's emotional and behavioural responses to tremors when designing plans for mass emergencies following earthquakes, such as the present case study.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

19 September earthquake; Behavioural reactions; Emotional reactions; Mexico City