13 th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering Vancouver, B.C., Canada August 1-6, 2004 Paper No. 2023 JAPAN - ROMANIA KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER FOR EARTHQUAKE DISASTER PREVENTION PREPAREDNESS OF CITIZENS IN BUCHAREST Emil-Sever GEORGESCU 1 , Isao TOJO 2 , Cristian STAMATIADE 3 , Roxana IFTIMESCU 4 , Cristina VLADESCU 5 , Caterina NEGULESCU 6 , Raluca RADOI 7 SUMMARY The paper presents the investigation of earthquake disaster prevention preparedness of citizens of Bucharest, as a component of the Japan-Romania Project on Seismic Risk Reduction. This project is financed by JICA – Japan International Cooperation Agency on 2002-2007, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transports, Construction and Tourism – MTCT of Romania in the framework of the National Center for Seismic Risk Reduction – NCSRR as implementing agency. The objectives of the study are related to identification of present situation of risk perception and new knowledge transfer forms necessary in earthquake education of apartment owners in Bucharest, to facilitate their active involvement in structural retrofitting, as they are living in first class of risk buildings that represent a public danger [1]. The questionnaire survey proved to be useful in understanding the opinions and reasoning of citizens who live in vulnerable buildings, concerning earthquakes effects and retrofitting. The positive answers show a remarkable consciousness about the seismic risk in Romania and in Bucharest and are very well correlated to the age and profession structure as well as with the experience of living nearby area of collapsed buildings at the March 4, 1977 earthquake. Since some public apathy and doubts in citizens opinions may be the reason of their reluctance to engage in strengthening works, there is a need of more adequate forms of education and preparedness of keeping alive the public awareness. 1 Ph.D., CE., The National Center for Seismic Risk Reduction – NCSRR & INCERC, Bucharest, Romania. Email: ssever@cons.incerc.ro 2 JICA Long-term Expert, The National Center for Seismic Risk Reduction – NCSRR, Bucharest, Romania. Email: tojo@pcnet.ro 3 CE, General Technical Directorate in Constructions, Ministry of Transports, Constructions and Tourism – MTCT, Bucharest, Romania. Email: dtc18@mt.ro 4 Engineer, The National Center for Seismic Risk Reduction – NCSRR, Bucharest, Romania. 5 Economist, The National Center for Seismic Risk Reduction – NCSRR, Bucharest, Romania. 6 Engineer, The National Center for Seismic Risk Reduction – NCSRR, Bucharest, Romania. 7 Engineer, The National Center for Seismic Risk Reduction – NCSRR, Bucharest, Romania.