Local perception of infrequent, extreme upland flash flooding

Prisoners of Experience

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3897938
AutoresJonathan Hopkins (0000-0002-3187-4013, Research Assistant – Quantitative Methods, Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences The James Hutton Institute United Kingdom), Jeff Warburton (0000-0003-3589-9039, Reader, Department of Geography, Durham University United Kingdom)
Año2015
Volumen39
Número3
Páginas546-569
Fecha de publicación2015-07-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaDisasters (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0361-3666 • E-ISSN: 1467-7717
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/disa.12120
PMID25583064
OpenAlexW2061985189
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas10
Referencias citadas55

The United Kingdom has experienced several exceptional summer flash floods in recent years and there is growing concern about the frequency of such events and the preparedness of the population. This paper uses a case study of the upper Ryedale flash flood (2005) and questionnaire and interview data to assess local perceptions of upland flash flooding. Experience of a major flash flood may not be associated with increased flood risk perception. Despite local residents' awareness of a trend towards wetter summers and more frequent heavy rainfall, the poor maintenance of rivers was more frequently thought to be a more significant factor influencing local flood risk than climate change. Such findings have important implications for the potential success of contemporary national flood policies, which have put greater emphasis on public responsibility for responding to flooding. This study recommends, therefore, the use of fresh participatory approaches to redistribute and raise awareness of locally-held flood knowledge

Citizen journalism · Environmental health · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Flash flood · Flood myth · Flooding (psychology · Geography · Perception · Poison control · Political science · Population · Preparedness · Risk perception · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Disaster Management and Resilience · Environmental Science · Flood Risk Assessment and Management · Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies · Medicine · Psychology