Flood Risk Literacy: Communication and Implications for Protective Action

Abstract

Flooding is among the costliest natural disasters in the United States. Research indicates that flood risk perceptions and knowledge often shape flood-related decision making; however, relatively less is known about specific individual differences in flood risk literacy. The current study presents data from 630 participants who completed a flood risk communication experiment and a general decision-making inventory (e.g., numeracy, risk perceptions, knowledge). Structural equation modeling revealed that both numeracy and flood knowledge partially explain differences in vulnerability, including effects on risk comprehension, weather risk perceptions, and decision quality (i.e., taking protective action). Limitations and implications for enhancing flood risk literacy are discussed.