Natural risks represent a constant threat to the Italian territory, with potentially severe consequences in terms of human losses, economic damage and social impacts. To mitigate these effects, the scientific community has long been committed in the development of increasingly effective methods and techniques that are made available for risk mitigation policies. To foster a wide implementation of such tools in risk prevention and management, a key element is the individual and collective behavior of the people. As for emergency situations, citizens' preparedness and their ability to react correctly are crucial to limiting impact.

To this end, risk communication plays a strategic role, not only as an information tool, but also as a means to promote a cultural change in the perception of natural hazards. The increasing diffusion of awareness campaigns aimed at promoting the culture of prevention makes it necessary to employ appropriate communication strategies so that such campaigns are able to reach an increasing number of citizens and promote their active behavior.

In this paper, an overview of some risk communication initiatives found in literature is presented, highlighting their main strengths and weaknesses. The level of preparation of the citizens is analyzed showing their awareness on the importance of preparedness activities together with their request for more information to better face future emergencies, especially when deriving from emerging and combined hazards. The results offer useful insights for the design of future risk awareness and communication campaigns, fostering a more informed, active and, consequently, resilient citizenry.