The study examines whether disaster experience and education through risk perception initiate flood and heat wave preparedness. Data were collected from 300 people, each of flood-prone and heat wave affected areas in Orissa. Results reveal that people having disaster experience and education are more prepared for flood and heat wave. More the people have prior disaster experience and education, more they perceive the risk of flood and heat wave. While increase in perceived risk of the disaster initiates flood preparedness, it does not further heat wave preparedness. Risk perception is only found to be a mediator between disaster experience, disaster-related education and flood preparedness.

This study examines whether disaster experience and awareness, mediated by external locus of control, influence disaster preparedness behavior. Data were collected from 300 people in flood-prone and a further 300 in heat-wave affected areas in Orissa (a state situated in south-eastern part of India). Results reveal that prior experience of hazard events and knowledge of protective actions significantly facilitates flood and heat-wave preparedness. However, locus of control mediates this relationship. Disaster experienced and aware people characterised by having an external control were less prepared. External control partially mediates between experience–behaviour and information–action link. These findings suggest that the effects of personal experience and awareness on self-protective behaviour are weakened by external attribution.

Natural and human-caused disasters disturb the social-ecological system and result in much pain, death, harm, and property and environmental destruction. How do humans prepare for and cope with disasters? Psychological adaptation to disasters has been an interesting area of research for psychologists. This non-empirical study examines the psychological literature relevant to disaster preparedness with the objective of answering the above question and describing what has been studied. Delineated here are individual characteristics; psychological qualities; reaction to risk and hazard; effects of knowledge, experience, and action; environmental considerations and effects; and social and cultural factors. Theories of threat response and disaster preparedness are also depicted. The concluding discussion briefly summarizes the contributions, notes areas and questions that could gain from inquiry, notes how these could be useful both for psychologists and persons affected by disasters, calls for cross-boundary research, and calls for recognition of disasters, their effects, and disaster preparation as important areas of ecopsychology. Key Words: Disasters—Disaster preparedness—Psychological factors—Environment—Hazard—Place attachment—Human-environment interaction—Psychology of environmental destruction.

Humans are increasing atmospheric CO2, ground-level ozone (O3), and mean and acute high temperatures. Laboratory studies show that elevated CO2 can increase thermotolerance of photosynthesis in C3 plants. O3-related oxidative stress may offset benefits of elevated CO2 during heat-waves. We determined effects of elevated CO2 and O3 on leaf thermotolerance of field-grown Glycine max (soybean, C3). Photosynthetic electron transport (et) was measured in attached leaves heated in situ and detached leaves heated under ambient CO2 and O3. Heating decreased et, which O3 exacerbated. Elevated CO2 prevented O3-related decreases during heating, but only increased et under ambient O3 in the field. Heating decreased chlorophyll and carotenoids, especially under elevated CO2. Neither CO2 nor O3 affected heat-shock proteins. Heating increased catalase (except in high O3) and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), but not Mn-SOD; CO2 and O3 decreased catalase but neither SOD. Soluble carbohydrates were unaffected by heating, but increased in elevated CO2. Thus, protection of photosynthesis during heat stress by elevated CO2 occurs in field-grown soybean under ambient O3, as in the lab, and high CO2 limits heat damage under elevated O3, but this protection is likely from decreased photorespiration and stomatal conductance rather than production of heat-stress adaptations.