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collective action and a shared orientation, (2) the sense-making process that under-
pins the accountability of a common way of doing things and which enables the
meanings of a practice to be continuously negotiated by its practitioners and (3) the
social effects generated by a practice in its connection with other social practices
(Corradi et al.
2010
). This approach leads to a
study of warning-as-practice
. Thus,
the observations were focused on 'what people do, what their work is like, and what
effort it takes to problem-solve their respective combinations of objects and ends'
(Carlile
2002
) during a warning. Such an approach requires the use of methods that
enable us to consider the entire process - encompassing the different actors involved,
from forecasters to risk managers to local residents - as it is carried out in practice
and in context.
12.2.2
Case Study and Sample: A Flash Flood Warning
Process
This study focused analyses on the Vidourle watershed (Gard Département, Southern
France (Fig.
12.1
)), which presents a number of interesting characteristics:
The study subject is a short coastal river (85 km). All kinds of geographical con-
fi gurations are observed from its source in the Cevenol mountains to its outlet at
the seaside town of Grau du Roi (see Fig.
12.2
).
The '
Vidourlades
' are a long-standing and recurring phenomenon of violent
fl ash fl oods in the Vidourle catchment, well-known across the entire Gard
Département. This specifi city has led, all along the Vidourle river, to the develop-
ment of a veritable culture based on these phenomena and the river's develop-
ment, as well as abundant regional and historical literature (e.g. Coeur
2007
;
Gaussen
1968
). Tellingly, one speaks of Vidourle river as a person, and
Vidourlade
is the nickname for 'its' fl oods that occur 'when Vidourle makes us jokes'. More
importantly, Vidourle is a topic of discussion amongst the inhabitants, and each
village (sometimes each house) has its own benchmarks for monitoring the river.
In Sommières, each fl ood occasions gatherings of people at the village square
where, often in a festive atmosphere, they observe, comment and bet on the ris-
ing waters.
All kinds of actors involved in warning processes are present in this area,
from government monitoring services to private contractors who provide
decision support services to municipalities in the event of fl ooding. As a
border river between two French departments (the Gard and the Hérault), this
site also allowed us to consider some institutional aspects of the warning
process.
This area also has a reputation for effective water crisis management.
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