Perception of Natural Disasters as a Threat Against Rural Communities in Poland

The purpose of this article is to analyze the results of quantitative research conducted as part of the “Rural Crime in Poland” research project, which allow us to determine the extent to which the inhabitants of Polish rural areas are concerned about natural disasters and to try to explain the factors that may influence these concerns. The survey was conducted in late 2023 and early 2024 with a representative sample of 1,006 people, all residing in rural areas. The results indicate that natural disasters are the second most frequently expressed concern (34.9% of the respondents declared their concern), just ahead of a fear of serious illness (44.1%). These concerns were more often declared by women and older people, especially those over 45, which may be due to, among other things, previous experiences, the difficulty of dealing with the effects of such disasters, and the influence of the media publicizing such events. In addition, residents of peripheral rural areas are more likely than those living closer to cities to perceive natural disasters as a threat, which may be related to limited access to infrastructure and emergency services and greater reliance on agriculture, which is vulnerable to natural disasters. The article describes the extensive flooding in Poland’s southern regions in 2024 as an example that shows the consequences of such disasters can be and why inhabitants of rural areas may perceive them as a serious threat. The article also points to the need for an interdisciplinary approach to diagnosing and mitigating these negative phenomena, which should combine insights from criminology, sociology, and environmental science.