The missing link between flood risk awareness and preparedness: findings from case studies in an Alpine Region

Abstract

CitationScolobig A., De Marchi B., Borga M. (2012), "The missing link between flood risk awareness and preparedness. Findings from case studies in an Italian Alpine Region", Natural Hazards, 63(2): 499-520. doi: 10.1007/s11069-012-0161-1 Abstract:The low risk awareness of the residents living in flood prone areas is usually considered among the main causes of their low preparedness, which in turns generates inadequate response to natural disasters. In this paper we challenge this assumption by reporting on the results of a sociological research in four communities exposed to flood risk in the Eastern Italian Alps. The research design included semi-structured interviews and focus groups with key local stakeholders and a standardised questionnaire submitted to 400 residents. Results revealed that residents felt both slightly worried about flood risk and slightly prepared to face an event. Considerable differences were found between the evaluations of individual subjects as opposed to overall communities. There was also a clear discrepancy between the actual adoption of household preparatory measures and the willingness to take self-protection actions. Overall, the risk awareness was significantly higher among those residents who had been personally affected by a flood in the past, were living in isolated (vs. urban) communities, in the most risky areas, or had a lower level of trust in local authorities. The improvement of residents' knowledge about their environment and the residual risk seemed to be crucial to increase risk awareness and the same was true for the strengthening of local support networks to foster preparedness. The link between risk awareness and preparedness was not at all straightforward. Results revealed instead the complexity of residents' perspectives, attitudes, behaviours, and decisions about risk related issues.

Debates—Perspectives on socio‐hydrology: Capturing feedbacks between physical and social processes

“…They are also driven by, e.g., media, which can amplify or attenuate perceptions of risk, and policy entrepreneurs, who can make efforts to keep flood risk high on the public agenda. Yet, empirical research shows that the experience of flooding events is (unfortunately) still the main driver of changes in risk awareness and their actual translations into actions, e.g., Scolobig et al [2012]. Troy et al [2015] focus on socio-hydrological modeling and discuss trade-offs between generality, precision and realism.…”

Raising risk preparedness by flood risk communication

“…However, empirical evidence on the relationship between risk awareness and hazard preparedness is ambiguous. Some studies suggest a significant correlation (Lindell and Perry, 2000;Lin et al, 2008), but others question whether there is a linear relationship between awareness and behaviour (Scolobig et al, 2012). They rather conclude that other influences might be more important so there can be no general strategy for raising awareness and motivating people to take action.…”

“…They rather conclude that other influences might be more important so there can be no general strategy for raising awareness and motivating people to take action. Scolobig et al (2012) recommend caution in interpreting positive correlations between awareness and preparedness, because the relationships between perceptions, attitudes, and cultural or political context factors are rather complex; and the nature of risk is also complex. This indicates that risk awareness is a multi-dimensional concept that needs to be studied in a more differentiated way using explorative methods (Miceli et al, 2008).…”

Is there really “nothing you can do”? Pathways to enhanced flood-risk preparedness

“…This idea has been supported by Norris et al, (1999:45) who argue that control is "a central cognitive mechanism explaining why many victims change their behaviour" and "a lack of perceived control is equally implicated as an explanation for why many victims do not". In this regard, it has been highlighted that some individuals or communities share an opinion that floods are something which simply cannot be given the speed at which an inundation occurs (see also Scolobig et al, 2012).…”

“…Whilst policy makers have tended to adopt an 'information-deficit model' to increase preparedness levels primarily though communication strategies aimed at promoting awareness, the assumed causal relation between awareness and preparedness is empirically weak (Bubeck et al, 2013;Miceli et al, 2008;Scolobig et al, 2012). As such, there is a growing interest amongst scholars and policy makers alike to better understand why at-risk individuals are underprepared.…”