Flood warnings in coastal areas: how do experience and information influence responses to alert services?

Abstract

Abstract. Many studies discuss the economic and technical aspects of flood warnings. Less attention has been given to the social and behavioural patterns that affect alert services. In particular, the literature focuses on warnings activated in river basins or marine environments without providing clear evidence on Mediterranean coastal areas, even though these are subjected to growing flood risk related to climate change. This paper is a first attempt to bridge this gap. Our research develops an in-depth analysis of the village of Cesenatico on the Adriatic Sea coast. Here the municipality adopted two complementary warning systems: a siren and an alert via short message service (SMS). The analysis focuses on a survey conducted in 2011 and 2012 with 228 participants. The relationships between social and behavioural variables and warning services are investigated as well as flood preparedness and information dissemination. Qualitative evidence from informal interviews is used to support the understanding of key responses. The conclusions show how different social and behavioural patterns can influence the effectiveness and use of warning systems, regardless of the technology adopted and the structural mitigation measures implemented. Education, training and accountability are seen to be critical elements for implementation. Finally, the statistical output is used to suggest new questions and new directions for research.

Historical analysis of storm events: Case studies in France, England, Portugal and Italy

“…Whereas recent catastrophes have shown that modern networks of information (internet, mobile telephone) are liable to failure under the high usage levels generated at the time of extreme events, the re-use of the bell-towers built in all the European villages and cities using a sound alarm could still be relevant. Whilst such warning systems have been de-commissioned on the North Norfolk coast, it is interesting to note that in Cesenatico, coast of Emilia-Romagna, sirens are still regularly used to warn the population and commercial activities of an imminent flood (Pescaroli and Magni, 2015), despite the existence of an automatic SMS based system. A similar system has been implemented for some time in Venice, with the local population regularly using it to plan commercial activities and access to the town at time of storm surges.…”

Preface: Monitoring and modelling to guide coastal adaptation to extreme storm events in a changing climate

“…Methods to reduce the uncertainty in morphological forecasts are now also being developed (Harley et al, 2016). Early warning is not only about the ability to accurately forecast a storm event in a timely manner, but also about the behaviour of society in response to such a warning (Pescaroli and Magni, 2015). To implement effective warning systems, there must be an understanding of what the hazard is and where vulnerable areas are Lapidez et al, 2015).…”

“…Improvements in education, training, and accountability are more critical than further development in technology (Pescaroli and Magni, 2015). To improve evacuation plans, vulnerability assessments of coastal communities are required.…”

Coastal Flooding Hazard Due to Overflow Using a Level II Method: Application to the Venetian Littoral

“…It should be stressed that the maps proposed by this work require an integration before they may be used for coastal management purposes, for instance other failure mechanism and information on the exposed value. Mitigation measures against marine inundation include alert services [18], evacuation procedures [19,20], flood insurance programs [21], structural defences (e.g., dikes and breakwaters [22]), planning options [23], community information and participation [21,24,25], and protection of natural buffer zones (e.g., dunes [26,27]).…”