Document Detail


'It'll never happen to me': understanding public awareness of local flood risk.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18380852     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Following the severe flood events of 1998 and 2000, the United Kingdom's Environment Agency prioritised the need to increase public flood risk awareness. Drawing on data collected during research undertaken for the Environment Agency, this paper contributes to understanding of one aspect of flood awareness: people's recognition that their property is in an area that is potentially at risk of flooding. Quantitative analyses indicate that class is the most influential factor in predicting flood risk awareness, followed by flood experience and length of time in residence. There are also significant area differences. Our qualitative work explores how those defined as 'at risk' account for their lack of awareness or concern about their risk status. We conclude that the problem is often not simply a lack of awareness, but rather, assessments of local risk based on experience that underestimate the impact of rare or extreme events. We underline the importance of engaging with local perspectives on risk and making local people part of 'awareness-raising' processes.
Authors:
Kate Burningham; Jane Fielding; Diana Thrush
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Disasters     Volume:  32     ISSN:  0361-3666     ISO Abbreviation:  Disasters     Publication Date:  2008 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-04-02     Completed Date:  2008-07-02     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7702072     Medline TA:  Disasters     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  216-38     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey, UK. K.Burningham@surrey.ac.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Awareness*
Civil Defense / statistics & numerical data*
Disaster Planning*
Disasters / statistics & numerical data*
England / epidemiology
Government Agencies
Humans
Public Opinion
Risk
Risk Management*
Wales / epidemiology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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