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Flood risk perceptions among SME’s in Zeeland

Preliminary results

Dr. Teun Terpstraterpstra@hkv.nl

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Flood Aware (province of Zeeland, Safety Region)

Flood awareness among SMEs?“Forgotten group” Recovery vital to local economy and society

SME SurveyPerceptions of floodingResilience

Input for flood risk communication (spring 2013)

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Data (TNS-NIPO)– Telephone 457– Online questionnaire 348– Owners/managers 75%– Located on ground floor

85%

Employees

1 - 4 5 - 9 10 +

industry / construction 6% 6% 7%

wholesale / agriculture 6% 6% 7%

retail / hospitality 8% 5% 7%

auto / transport 6% 5% 6%

bank / insurance 8% 7% 10%

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Flooding

Wateroverlast urban flooding due to heavy rainfall

Overstromingen failure of sea defences during heavy storm

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Company at risk?Wateroverlast

urban flooding due to heavy rainfall51% says: location is “not risky” or “hardly risky”

Overstromingen failure of see defences during heavy storm58% says: location is “not risky” or “hardly risky”

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58%:

“not risky”

or

“hardly risky”

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estimated percentual chance (gut feeling)

rainfall heavy storm

Perceptions of likelihood ...

in your environment, in the next 10 years– rainfall : 39%– heavy storm: 6%

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True Elevation versus Perceived Elevation (NAP)

Of 322 responses

... 20% underestimate risk

... 13% perceived risk = true risk

... 67% overestimate risk (based on NAP)

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Perceptions of consequences

• Building poorly accessible 78%

• Damage to – walls, floors 76%– furniture 74%– stockpile 66%– administration 35%

• Failure of utility services– electricity 70%– internet 53%– gas 52%– water 52%– phones 30%

• Failure of– supply chains 60%– transport means 50%– personnel 47%– machines 33%

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Effective preparedness measures?

• Flood insurance 52%(because insurance covers all kinds of damage? delicate subject!)

• Raise electricity 50%• Electricity generator 45%• Business evacuation plan 38%• Information from authorities 33%• Water pump 31%• Helping each other 30%• Flood risk on MKB agenda 26%• Tiles on ground floor 21%• Sand bags 19%

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Barriers in flood preparedness

• Feel not responsible– Heavy storm 56%– Rainfall 35%

• Complex 51%• Time and effort 51%• Financially not feasible 47%• Finding the right info 28%

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Helping each other (community resilience)

Can you help other businesses …• pump water out /clean mess 21%• repair damage to

– Automobiles 12%– Buildings 11%– Utility services 7%– ICT 6%

• transport of – light weight goods 33%– heavy weight goods 19%

• provide people with– overnight, meals 19%

– social meeting place 21%

Feel responsible to help others? 80%

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1 Currently well prepared 22%2 Important to be informed 57% Pay attention to information 57%3 Willing to insure 50% If at risk, take measures 45%4 Actively information seaking 16% Discuss risk with others 10%

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What kind of info?1 Warning procedure 55%2 Riskiness location 40% Flood likelihood 36% Evacuation possibilities 36%3 Damage 29% Measures 27%

Who should provide info?1 Rijkswaterstaat 72% Water Board 71%2 Province 57% Safety region 54% Fire department 49% Municipality 46%3 Police department 24% Hogeschool 16% MKB 16%

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• Rainfall different from Heavy storm flooding

• 50-60% perceives hardly any flood risks

• … but perceiving flood risk is not easy– perceived consequences realistic– overestimate risk based on probabilities and NAP

• … nor is preparing for floods– Few effective preparations (electricity, insurance?)– Complex, Financially not feasible, Not responsible

• Helping others– 80% feels responsible to help other SMEs– Capacities differ between branches

• Risk communication– Open attitude towards information– Content: warning procedures, risk locations– Source: involvement of flood authorities

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Thoughts about floods cause emotions ...

• Connected 53% (positive emotion)

• Worried 49% (negative emotions)

• Disappointed 35%• Helpless 26%• Angry 24%• Fear 17%