Exploring the circumstances surrounding flood fatalities in Australia—1900–2015 and the implications for policy and practice

Bibliographic Data

ID12668657
AuthorsKatharine Haynes (0000-0002-1024-6878, Natural Hazards Research Australia, corresponding author), Linda Coates (0000-0003-4433-6676, Macquarie University), Rob van den Honert (Natural Hazards Research Australia), Andrew Gissing (0000-0001-7289-323X, Macquarie University), Deanne K Bird (0000-0001-8556-0987, Natural Hazards Research Australia), Deanne Bird, Felipe Dimer De Oliveira (Natural Hazards Research Australia), Rebecca D’Arcy (0000-0002-8957-606X, Macquarie University), Chloe Smith (Macquarie University), Deirdre Radford (Macquarie University)
Year2017
Volume76
Pages165-176
Publication date2017-07-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Science & Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1462-9011 • E-ISSN: 1873-6416
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.envsci.2017.07.003
OpenAlexW2734679088
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited20

This paper documents the analysis of the circumstances surrounding fatalities due to flooding in Australia between 1900 and 2015. This longitudinal investigation is important to understand changing trends in social vulnerability and to inform efficient and strategic risk reduction strategies. The basis of this analysis was PerilAUS, Risk Frontiers’ database of historical natural hazard impacts in Australia. This data was augmented and verified using coronial inquest records which provide detailed data concerning the social, demographic and environmental circumstances of each fatality. A statistical analysis of the data was undertaken, examining demographics (age, gender), location (state), seasonality, circumstances surrounding the fatality, environmental factors (e.g. the event intensity) and social factors (e.g. the decisions or actions which led to death). Overall there have been 1859 fatalities identified, with distinct trends in relation to gender, age, activity and reason behind the activity. Flood deaths have been declining. The majority of the fatalities are male (79.3%): however, since the 1960s the proportion of female to male fatalities has increased. Children and young adults (<29 years) make up the greatest proportion of the fatalities (53.8% of cases where age is known). The highest proportions of fatalities occurred while victims attempted to cross a flood-impacted bridge or road. The recommendations for emergency management policy and practice are discussed, outlining the need for a new approach that accounts for a continuum of measures including regulation and incentive, education and structural intervention

Case fatality rate · Computer security · Environmental health · Flood myth · Geography · Hazard · Homicide · Inquest · Poison control · Population · Psychological intervention · Social vulnerability · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Vulnerability (computing · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Demography · Disaster Management and Resilience · Flood Risk Assessment and Management · Medicine · Psychology