“Surely it will come again…”. Flood threat appraisal, mitigation strategies and protection motivation in Czech communities endangered by floods

0534733 - ÚGN 2021 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Andráško, Ivan - Dolák Klemešová, K. - Dolák, L. - Trojan, J. - Fiedor, D.
“Surely it will come again…”. Flood threat appraisal, mitigation strategies and protection motivation in Czech communities endangered by floods.
Moravian Geographical Reports. Roč. 28, č. 3 (2020), s. 170-186. ISSN 1210-8812. E-ISSN 1210-8812
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA20-11782S
Institutional support: RVO:68145535
Keywords : floods * perception * mitigation measures * Protection Motivation Theory * South Bohemia * Czech Republic
OECD category: Environmental sciences (social aspects)
Impact factor: 2.250, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.geonika.cz/EN/research/ENMGRClanky/10361-Volume_28_Issue_3_Paper_2.pdf

A recent “shift” in flood risk management is associated with putting more emphasis on private mitigation and protection measures, and on shared responsibility. Based on case study research in the South Bohemian municipalities (Czech Republic) endangered by floods, this paper reports floods-related attitudes and actions of local inhabitants. A total of 305 respondents participated in a survey. Responses and additional commentaries were examined through qualitative content analysis. Results show that though most of the local residents are aware of the constant threat, a minority of them take up any mitigation measures or have some strategy to handle a flood. Several cognitive biases and non-protective responses, the lack of interest and personal responsibility, perceived costs, as well as the prevailing low perceived importance of floods for the local quality of life, hamper improvements in general preparedness. From the viewpoint of Protection Motivation Theory, neither the locals’ threat appraisal nor their coping appraisal is high enough to sufficiently incentivise them to adopt private mitigation strategies and measures. Flood information seems to be at hand for local residents, who are, however, mostly not interested in using it. Perceived obscurities in handling the financial resources contribute to the prevailing unwillingness to participate financially in flood protection. Differences in perceptions and actions are associated with respondents’ individual characteristics (age, gender, level of education, previous experience with floods). Based on our findings, we discuss several relevant policy implications.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0312914