Multi-level assessment of flood risk perception and flood behaviour

Abstract

Understanding the relationships between flood risk perception and flood behaviour is crucial for effective risk management and risk communication strategies, but quantitative research in this area remains challenging. Based on a survey of 1007 residents in four different localities of Chile exposed to river floods, this study builds and applies a framework for assessing flood risk perception and flood behaviour at the individual, household, neighbourhood, and municipality levels. Results show that almost all respondents were aware of flood risk. Economic and personal resources strongly influence worry and preparedness: households in better economic situations were less worried about floods, lower economic resources at the municipal and neighbourhood levels prompted households to adopt cautionary measures. Experiences where the flood passed outside the household increased worry and preparedness. Worry decreased as trust in the neighbours increased. Overall, worry and preparedness in the study area were intermediate, with an increasing dispersion from the municipality to the individual level. Increasing worry did not necessarily translate into higher preparedness. Municipalities exhibited different flood behaviours, and some neighbourhoods exhibited flood behaviours different to those of their municipalities, evidencing important differences across the analysed levels. The results suggest that risk communication and risk management strategies should be tailored to the needs of specific neighbourhoods exposed to flooding.