Resilience and adaptation of small and medium‐sized enterprises to flood risk

Abstract

Resilience and adaptation of small and mediumsized enterprises to flood risk Wedawatta, GSD The UK experienced a number of flood events during the recent years, and the intensity and frequency of such events are forecast to further increase in future due to changing climatic conditions. Accordingly, enhancing the resilience of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs); which form an important segment in a society, to flood risk, has emerged as an important issue. However, SMEs often tend to underestimate the risk of flooding which tends to have a low priority in their business agenda. The paper undertakes an investigation of adaptation to the risk of flooding considering community-level measures, individual-level property protection, and business continuity and resilience measures. Design/methodology/approach (mandatory)Four short case studies were conducted among SMEs to identify their response to flood risk, and what measures have been undertaken to manage the risk of flooding. Findings (mandatory)It was observed that SMEs have implemented different property-level protection measures and generic business continuity/risk management measures, based on their requirements, to achieve a desired level of protection. Practical implications (if applicable)SMEs are likely to positively respond to property-level adaptation following a post-flood situation. It is important that information such as costs/benefits of such measures and different options available are made accessible to SMEs affected by a flood event. Social implications (if applicable)Implementation of property-level adaptation measures will contribute towards the long term adaptation of the existing building stock to changing climatic conditions. Originality/value (mandatory)The paper contributes towards policy making on flood risk adaptation and SME decision making, and informs policy makers and practitioners.

Predicting small business demise after a natural disaster: an analysis of pre-existing conditions

“…In the same study, flood preparedness was positively correlated with business age. This finding is consistent with other literature (Drabek 1991;Tierney 1997;Wedawatta and Ingirige 2012) that suggests older businesses are better able to prepare for the impacts of disasters.…”

Small businesses and flood impacts: the case of the 2009 flood event in Cockermouth

“…The questionnaire survey template was developed drawing from existing studies on the issues being investigated, including previous works of the authors (Ingirige and Wedawatta, ; Wedawatta et al ., ; Wedawatta and Ingirige, ). Comments on the questionnaire survey template were first obtained from experts, including academics and personnel who had worked with SMEs following the 2009 flood event.…”

Adaptation and Mitigation Model for People to Restore Their Ecosystem from Flood in Semarang, Indonesia

“…Flood adaptation and mitigation can be done through (1) Structural and non-structural (Changzhi Li, et al, 2012;Wedawatta and Ingirige, 2012;Lawson et al 2011)), (2) Identification and reducing the vulnerable from physical, environment, social and economic aspects (Moser, et al, 2010;Florina, 2007;Chaliha, 2012, Balica, et al, 2012, (3) vulnerable identification of exsposure sensivity, and adaptive capacity aspects. (Smit and Wandel, 2006;Turner et al, 2003;and Brenkert and Malone, 2005), (4) Improvement and development program through the increasing of education level, income, insurance and poverty reducing (Chan, 1997;and Eziyi, 2011), (5) The increasing of society capacity (Yuniartanti, 2012;Hardoyo, 2011;Maharani, 2012), (6) the increasing of society participation (Olofsson, 2007;Fordham, 1998;Quarantelli, 2005), and (7) The increasing of society recognizing and capacity (Suryanti et al, 2010;and Zein, 2010).…”