Enhancing flood resilience through improved risk communications

O’Sullivan, John; Bradford, R. A.; Bonaiuto, Marino; Dominicis, Stefano De; Rotko, P.; Aaltonen, Juha; Waylen, Kerry A.; Langan, Simon

doi:10.5194/nhess-12-2271-2012

Cited by 106 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…However, the existing research suggests that current communications are having limited impact on driving risk awareness or resilient behaviours. O'Sullivan et al (2012) examined the impact of flood risk communications across Europe and identified low levels of information penetration and personal preparedness, often accompanied by a high level of These online maps indicate areas of potential flood hazard and differentiate high-, medium-and low-risk categories. Intended to raise awareness of the risk of flooding of those living in at-risk areas Common to the majority of countries in the EU (EXCIMAP 2007a, b;de Moel et al 2009) …”

Section: Current Approaches To Communications In Flood Risk Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rethinking flood risk communication

et al. 2018

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Flooding is a serious hazard across Europe, with over 200 major floods documented in the last two decades. Over this period, flood management has evolved, with a greater responsibility now placed on at-risk communities to understand their risk and take protective action to develop flood resilience. Consequently, communicating flood risk has become an increasingly central part of developing flood resilience. However, research suggests that current risk communications have not resulted in the intended increase in awareness, or behavioural change. This paper explores how current risk communications are used by those at risk, what information users desire and how best this should be presented. We explore these questions through a multi-method participatory experiment, working together with a competency group of local participants in the town of Corbridge, Northumberland, the UK. Our research demonstrates that current risk communications fail to meet user needs for information in the period before a flood event, leaving users unsure of what will happen, or how best to respond. We show that participants want information on when and how a flooding may occur (flood dynamics), so that they can understand their risk and feel in control of their decisions on how to respond. We also present four prototypes which translate these information needs into new approaches to communicating flood risk. Developed by the research participants, these proposals meet their information needs, increase their flood literacy and develop their response capacity. The findings of the research have implications for how we design and develop future flood communications, but also for how we envisage the role of flood communications in developing resilience at a community level.

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Section: Current Approaches To Communications In Flood Risk Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rethinking flood risk communication

et al. 2018

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“…responsibility and trust. Apart from experience and emotions, the perceived responsibility of authorities was also found to influence individual risk preparedness in several studies (Botzen et al, 2009a;O'Sullivan et al, 2012;Eiser et al, 2012) although Terpstra et al (2006) found no such correlation. Their results indicate that the influence of perceived responsibility on preparedness is a matter of citizens' trust in their government, and the degree to which citizens trust governments varies according to political and cultural circumstances.…”

Section: Relevant Findings and Open Research Questions On Risk Preparmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raising risk preparedness by flood risk communication

Maidl

Buchecker

2015

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. During the last decade, most European countries have produced hazard maps of natural hazards, but little is known about how to communicate these maps most efficiently to the public. In October 2011, Zurich's local authorities informed owners of buildings located in the urban flood hazard zone about potential flood damage, the probability of flood events and protection measures. The campaign was based on the assumptions that informing citizens increases their risk awareness and that citizens who are aware of risks are more likely to undertake actions to protect themselves and their property.This study is intended as a contribution to better understand the factors that influence flood risk preparedness, with a special focus on the effects of such a one-way risk communication strategy. We conducted a standardized mail survey of 1500 property owners in the hazard zones in Zurich (response rate main survey: 34 %). The questionnaire included items to measure respondents' risk awareness, risk preparedness, flood experience, information-seeking behaviour, knowledge about flood risk, evaluation of the information material, risk acceptance, attachment to the property and trust in local authorities. Data about the type of property and sociodemographic variables were also collected.Multivariate data analysis revealed that the average level of risk awareness and preparedness was low, but the results confirmed that the campaign had a statistically significant effect on the level of preparedness. The main influencing factors on the intention to prepare for a flood were the extent to which respondents evaluated the information material positively as well as their risk awareness. Respondents who had never taken any previous interest in floods were less likely to read the material. For future campaigns, we therefore recommend repeated communication that is tailored to the information needs of the target population.

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“…This need of confirmation has been identified by several authors (Mileti and Sorensen, 1990;Sorensen, 2000;O'Sullivan et al, 2012). Parker et al (2009) made a comparison of several studies on the behaviour model across Europe.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Assessment of the warning system against floods on a rural area: the case of the lower Siret River (Romania)

Salit

Zaharia

Beltrando

2013

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The development of non-structural measures such as an early warning system, across the Europe, in flood risk management, requires a better understanding of the public involved and of the territory threatened. This paper aims to conduct an assessment of early warning and information to people with an analysis of the population's behaviour, presented in a form of an event tree. The objective is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the warning system during a deadly flood in the lower Siret River (Romania) in 2005 and to demonstrate that each warning system has to be adapted to the territory in which it is effective. The behavioural model aims to determine to what extent the warning system can be improved but also to suggest ways to adapt risk education to the study area.

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Enhancing flood resilience through improved risk communications

Cited by 106 publications

References 26 publications

Rethinking flood risk communication

Rethinking flood risk communication

Raising risk preparedness by flood risk communication

Assessment of the warning system against floods on a rural area: the case of the lower Siret River (Romania)

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