<p>This study examines public awareness and disaster preparedness in the Lâdik district of Samsun province, Türkiye. Lâdik is a region that remains at risk from historical seismic activity; therefore, evaluating the level of preparedness and public awareness constitutes a significant research concern. The research aims to reveal how attitudes and behaviors related to disasters differ across urban and rural areas according to socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, place of birth, education level, income status, and employment status. Using a quantitative survey method, the study examined disaster awareness and preparedness levels through a survey conducted with 700 participants. Data were gathered and analyzed using SPSS software, including descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The results reveal that disaster awareness is directly associated not only with the presence of physical hazards but also with the social and economic conditions of individuals. In urban areas, institutional factors such as access to disaster training, insurance, and formal information channels are more prominent, whereas in rural settings, individual and community-based practices—such as preparing a disaster bag, attending local meetings, and relying on social networks—play a greater role. Age, education, and income were determined as key variables affecting awareness levels. A particularly notable result is the significant differences in disaster preparedness between urban and rural inhabitants within the same district, highlighting the importance of microspatial sensitivity in disaster policy design. Based on these results, disaster preparedness in the Lâdik district remains insufficient—particularly in rural areas—due to low participation in training, lack of planning, and limited institutional trust. These findings underscore the need to enhance disaster preparedness through multi-layered strategies that integrate spatial justice, social equity, and locally tailored education and engagement programs.</p>