Insights From Homeowners on the Impact of Flood Risk Communication on Adaptive Behavior at the Property Level From the 2021 Flood Event in Germany

Abstract

The study provides insights into the impact of risk communication on adaptation behavior before and after the 2021 flood in western Germany. The aim is to ascertain how the flood influenced homeowners' adaptive behavior. The Protection Motivation Theory is employed to identify the factors that influence adaptive behavior and needs in response to flooding. To facilitate effective risk communication, we examine the FLOODLABEL, an expert-oriented communication tool. The findings contribute to the academic debate by providing insights into the impact of risk communication on adaptation behavior. The literature discusses the discrepancy between the information deemed crucial by experts and the information citizens require to make informed decisions. This discrepancy has prompted the need to investigate how an event of this magnitude has resulted in adaptive behavior and which role risk communication plays in the implementation of measures. To this end, a quantitative survey was conducted with 773 participating homeowners. The findings revealed information gaps and ineffective risk communication strategies. This study highlights the need to expand risk communication from a one-way, knowledge-based format to a more interactive and two-way process. The event caused a shift in homeowners' perceived risk; yet, this did not result in a discernible change in adaptive behavior.