Floodplain managers' perceptions of community flood concern, mitigation, preparedness, and response in the United States

Abstract

Flooding causes more financial and physical destruction in the United States than any other natural hazard. To stem flood losses, local floodplain managers make decisions on how best to mitigate, prepare, and respond to flood hazards. Using quantitative and qualitative data gathered from interviews with 200 floodplain managers in the United States, this study explores the extent to which local communities are concerned about floods, perceptions of communities' ability to mitigate, prepare, and respond to floods, as well as the factors contributing to communities' perceptions of their ability to mitigate, prepare, and respond to floods.Findings indicate that floodplain managers generally perceived their communities to be very or somewhat concerned and prepared for floods. Floodplain managers also perceived their communities' ability to mitigate and respond to floods as being good.Lastly, the findings show that participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Community Rating System was positively associated with floodplain managers' perceptions of their community's ability to mitigate, prepare, and respond to floods.