The research, based on 915 surveys conducted among staff at the two public universities in the archipelago, examined the level of awareness of warnings, risk perception, and response capability. Its conclusions point to a need for better communication to ensure public safety.

The main source of confusion lies in the coexistence of two communication systems that the population struggles to fully differentiate. On one hand, there are the warnings from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), which use color codes to indicate the probability of adverse phenomena. On the other, there are Civil Protection alerts, activated through emergency plans such as the Emergency Plan for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PESMA), which issue specific recommendations and actions.

According to the researchers, the issue is not the complexity of the systems themselves, but rather a "need for training." Both systems are complementary: AEMET provides information, while Civil Protection offers recommendations and actions. However, the study shows that a significant portion of the population is unclear on how to proceed in each scenario.

The study, published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, also analyzes the sociodemographic profile of risk perception. Results indicate that older individuals show a higher perception of risk, enabling them to make better decisions. Conversely, a lower educational level is associated with greater difficulty in comprehension. Therefore, training and knowledge are highlighted as key for personal self-protection.

The findings of the work aim to provide administrations with a solid basis for reviewing the current system and designing clearer, more coordinated messages. The results demonstrate that, while many people are aware of warnings, they do not always know how to act, underscoring the urgency of more effective risk communication focused on public self-protection.