Public trust is not only a foundation of democratic governance, political legitimacy, and the effective implementation of public policies, but is also critically important for maintaining healthy relationships between states and their citizens. It is extremely difficult for modern states to fulfill their responsibilities and functions without the trust and confidence of their citizens. Throughout history, Türkiye has experienced frequent disasters because of its geographical location, geological characteristics, and climatic conditions, and these events have had significant social and economic consequences. In particular, the devastating earthquakes of February 6, 2023, deeply affected thousands of citizens, caused widespread destruction, and inflicted considerable damage on the national economy. Therefore, adequate disaster preparedness and an effective capacity to respond to and manage disasters are essential. In addition to increasing citizens’ awareness of disasters, disaster preparedness, and appropriate responses, strengthening their trust in institutions involved in disaster management is highly important for ensuring that disaster-related processes can be managed effectively. This study seeks to examine and analyze the levels of trust that disaster-affected individuals place in institutions involved in disaster management and to investigate whether these levels of trust vary according to citizens’ socio-demographic characteristics. According to the findings of this study, the Turkish Armed Forces, the police and other law enforcement agencies, and the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (DEMP/AFAD) were identified as the three most trusted institutions in Türkiye in the context of disaster management. The findings further indicate that DEMP is perceived by participants as an important and capable public institution in disaster management in Türkiye and that participants’ trust in the institution is comparatively high.
