social and political dynamics of flood risk, recovery and response

Report Launch for the Winter Floods Project

Project Background

• 2013/14 floods

• Examines the processes of response and recovery following the floods

• Public and stakeholder views and responses – how they interconnect

• Longer-term implications of flood events for policy, practice and adaptation

Project Aims

• Build insight into how members of the public and stakeholders understand floods and their solutions in the aftermath of major events

• Interrogate how different perceptions, social processes and experiences affect the longer-term responses to floods and related issues

• Investigate how different experiences and perceptions of responses to floods relate to wider issues of well-being

• Identify to what extent existing strategies and approaches to flood risk management (such as individual and community resistance and resilience) help to mitigate impacts

• Members of the public and stakeholders (n=112)

• July–October 2014 and April-May 2015

Repeat Interviews

• Quantitative survey of members of the public living in two flood affected areas

• Somerset (n=500); Boston, Lincolnshire (n=500)

Survey• Two workshops with

stakeholders and members of the public (n=32)

Workshops

Case Study Sites

Themes

Perceptions of flood causes and solutions

Politics, expectations

and Institutional Responses

Place and Situated

Perceptions

Flood Experiences, Community

Resilience and Wellbeing

THEME ONE: PERCEPTIONS OF FLOOD CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

Members of the public and stakeholders perceived the causes and solutions for the 2013/14 floods differently. These differences underpinned conflict and contestation following the floods.

KEY IMPLICATIONS

Flood events provide opportunities for engagement between institutions and those affected but are often times of conflict owing to differences in the ways that floods are discussed

Being attentive to the importance of tangible solutions both for the immediate recovery and long-term management could be a basis for dialogue and building trust


THEME TWO: POLITICS, EXPECTATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES

There are stark differences in terms of expectations for response and recovery between public and stakeholder groups. Expectations for help and support are not necessarily reflected in statutory responsibilities.

Well-being 12 months post

flood

Feelings of community acceptance

Recovery process

Wellbeingduring flood event

Perceptions of the response process

Four key variables that predict wellbeing 12 months post flood


KEY IMPLICATIONSDiscrepancies in the perception of responses of floods between stakeholders and publics can in part be attributed to misaligned expectations

These relate to deeper expectations regarding the role of government in ensuring the conditions for people to live healthy lives.

Institutional responses are important for wellbeing after floods

Attentiveness to the timing of communications and support for community led responses could enhance perceptions of institutional responses


THEME THREE: PLACE AND SITUATED PERCEPTIONS

Connections with place are important to take account of when seeking to understand perceptions of flood causes and solutions, for adaptation and long-term flood risk management.

Expectations for current flood risk management are influenced not only by perceptions about the efficacy of an approach but also by desires to maintain, or change, the current landscape



Perceptions of responses to flood events are influenced by politics, particularly what is seen to be happening in other areas.


KEY IMPLICATIONS

Being attentive to the connections people form with places, landscapes and social structures is important when suggesting response strategies

There is also a need to support people re-connecting to homes and landscapes as part of the recovery process.

THEME FOUR: FLOOD EXPERIENCES, COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND WELL-BEING

Community support and cohesion are key components of short- and long-term resilience because of the role of community in mitigating the impacts to well-being in flood affected areas.


Role of institutions in supporting communities at risk from flooding


KEY IMPLICATIONS

Well-being impacts from flooding are complex and affected by the individual, the community, and institutions.

Approaches to dealing with the well-being impacts of flooding would be most effective if co-produced with the communities at risk from flooding

KEY CONCLUSIONSDECISION-MAKING IN THE AFTERMATH OF FLOODS

Enhance public engagement by ensuring communications are based on clear articulations of what people can expect from different agencies, and tangible practical actions that can be taken by both authorities, householders, and businesses to mitigate flood risk in future.

Ensure more strategic processes of funding allocation in post-flood contexts to facilitate the ability of agencies to deliver tangible solutions, particularly for areas where cost-benefit analysis means they would not be able to access investment through normal, national mechanisms.

A wide range of actions within institutions can support social resilience with positive implications for well-being.

Social and Political Dynamics of Flood Risk, Recovery and Response

Thank you

#floodsevidence

@drcbutler @NeilAdger @SaffronJOneill

social and political dynamics of flood risk, recovery and response

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