Only 6% of Israel's Haredi community describes itself as having ever prepared for an earthquake, according to a new survey conducted by researchers from the Jerusalem College of Technology and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The findings of the poll, prompted by recent research into the bed of the Dead Sea which revealed that an earthquake large enough to cause thousands of deaths could hit Israel in the coming years, highlight the vulnerability of ultra-Orthodox society in times of emergency, a situation that has already been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the respondents, 68% said they were unaware of basic safety guidelines following an earthquake, 59% believed they did not have the knowledge to deal with an earthquake, 15% of respondents, who are parents of small children, said that they had discussed earthquake emergency rules with their children, and only 3% had practiced those rules with them.
The findings point to a complex effect of Haredi religious beliefs and worldviews on disaster preparedness. While many expressed fatalistic attitudes, most respondents believed that there is a religious obligation to prepare for a disaster.
Moreover, most Haredi respondents also expressed disbelief that a devastating earthquake would occur in the near future: 59% said chances of a disastrous earthquake in Israel were "nonexistent."
The study points to various factors that the researchers say have an adverse effect on the Haredi public's level of preparedness, including technological disparities, low exposure to media outlets where the instructions are published, the insularity of educational institutions, suspicion toward state authorities, and low socioeconomic status. However, the strong social capital in Haredi society can be leveraged to improve its level of preparedness and its functioning in times of emergency.
"There is a pressing national need in Israel for continuous and consistent work with the Haredi community before a natural disaster takes place," said Dr. Zvika Orr, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences at JCT, and a lead researcher on the earthquake study.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
Professor Amotz Agnon of Hebrew University's Institute of Earth Sciences noted, "Although we have documented a situation that leaves much room for improvement, goodwill on the part of the Israeli authorities can be met with goodwill on the part of considerable sections of the Haredi sector when it comes to emergency preparedness.
