Objective:

The perception of the risk of the population of the head town of the province that has not been affected by this natural event and its contribution to the community education of the population in the prevention of the negative consequences of this disaster is evaluated.

Methods:

A questionnaire with 23 questions was given to a random and stratified sample of 153 people, out of these question, 10 questions were open. The perception of risk is assessed through the scales of total vulnerability and socio-economic vulnerability. The pertinent statistical tests were applied according to the variables to be surveyed.

Result:

Low perception of risk in a scenario of high risk and vulnerability. The positive features of risk perception are: recognition of the government's concern and confidence in its management and the correct meanings about earthquakes and negatives: no recognition of danger, ignorance of negative practices before, during and after the earthquake and measures of protection and the low recognition of the probability, danger and affectations of the earthquakes, as well as a proposal capacity almost null. There are no significant differences in the perception of risk in terms of sociodemographic variables except the Popular Council of residence.

Conclusion:

The average-to-low perception of the population is given by the lack of lived experiences in giving adequate response to a seismic event, with differences from one district to another, and without differences in the rest of the sociodemographic variables, so that it requires developing community environmental education to face these natural hazards within the framework of community management for disaster risk reduction.

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