Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 20.1
Key issues and recommendations on the socio-psychological dimensions of flood risk management (FRM)
in relation to the phases of the disaster cycle
Preparedness before event (links with mitigation after event)
RISK AWARENESS AND
CONSTRUCTION
Recommendations:
ood histories; where none exist, highlight
impacts and experience from other similar locations and communities
.
Provide information on causes of different types of
.
Build upon existing community
ood experience and local
Issues:
Low levels of awareness and
acceptance of risk
oods and what actions can be taken to prepare
.
Better explain the probabilities of
ooding. Use simple terminology and avoid terms like 1 : 100
The need to engage people and
encourage them to prepare and
plan for
oods
.
Emphasize the consequences of
oods not just the probabilities
.
Include information on local
ood history to potential purchasers of properties
.
Target landlords, letting agents and renters in awareness-raising campaigns
.
Identify and target existing social networks to help increase awareness and community preparedness
.
Encourage the development of household, community and business plans for
ooding
.
Encourage and support more community
ood warden schemes
.
Draw upon the expertise of psychologists to increase understanding of the role of risk construction,
attitudes and perceptions in individual decision-making behaviour and motivations, and in
formulating more effective response strategies
.
Consider the further exploration of 'values modes' approaches to inform communication strategies
THE ROLE OF EMOTIONS
Recommendations:
Issues:
Need for better acknowledgement,
recognition and understanding
of the role of emotions in
people's risk construction
.
Draw upon the expertise of psychologists to: increase understanding of the role of emotions in risk
construction and their impact on risk preparedness and response; and to help understand people's
needs to protect their emotional security and representations of security
.
Build upon people's strong emotional attachment to the home in awareness raising and
preparedness campaigns
Need to understand people's
perception of home/place and
how
.
Develop strategies to normalize the threat of
ooding
.
Develop more innovative property resistance measures that have less visual impact and are not
perceived to reduce the value of properties
ooding undermines such
perceptions and identities
INSURANCE
Recommendations:
Issue:
.
To facilitate insurance uptake among low-income groups and renters, need to emphasize the bene
ts
Low take-up of insurance among
certain groups in `at-risk' areas
of insurance in awareness raising by highlighting the costs of repairing homes and replacing
possessions
.
Encourage institutional pressures to increase insurance take-up
Response and relief during event
FLOOD WARNINGS
Recommendations:
Issues:
.
Raise awareness of the bene
ts of
ood warnings in reducing potential losses and distress
Low take-up of
ood warning
services
.
Tailor
ood warning methods according to the type of
ood risk and to recipient needs and location
characteristics
Inappropriate response to
warnings
.
Explore the feasibilities for more face-to-face warnings, e.g. from
ood wardens and door knocking
.
Do not overly rely on all people having access to the internet as a medium for warning and
information provision
.
Take a `response focus' to warnings to facilitating effective actions
RISK TO LIFE
Recommendations:
Issue:
Mortality in
.
Using graphic images and examples emphasize the power of
ood waters and the various dangers of
oods is often
associated with risk-taking
behaviour, especially among
younger males
oodwaters
.
In driving test examinations include questions on the dangers of
walking or driving through
oodwaters, e.g. at which of the
following depths would a large four-wheel drive vehicle be carried away by
oodwaters?
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