Should I Stay or should I Go? Determinants of Evacuation upon Flood Warning among Households in a Flood Prone Area in Bukidnon, Philippines

Abstract

To identify factors that influence the decision to evacuate upon flood warning by authorities, a study was conducted in a flood prone area in the province of Bukidnon in the Philippines. A survey of flood victims was conducted in Batangan Village, Valencia City, Bukidnon, Philippines wherein 150 respondents were interviewed. Logistic regression analysis was done to test the socio demographic factors that could influence a family’s decision to either evacuate or stay upon advice by government authorities. College education, presence of children in the home, poverty, and extent of flood experienced were found to significantly influence the decision of the family to evacuate. Based on this information, the study provides recommendations for disaster managers in case of future flood incidence in the area.