Impact of the 2010-11 floods and the factors that inhibit and enable household adaptation strategies
Deanne Bird, David King, Katharine Haynes, Pamela Box, Tetsuya Okada and Kate Nairn
Year: 2013
Looking at three flood affected communities (Brisbane and Emerald, Queensland; and Donald, Victoria) a greater number of factors inhibit adaptation to flooding that enable adaptive behaviour. Yet despite this, the study did show resilient communities getting on with their lives and largely driving recovery themselves. The results provide valuable information to reduce peoples vulnerability to flood prior to, during and after an event. The main factors in building or inhibiting adaptive capacity identified were: direct experience; outcome expectancy; methods of communication and availability of information; governance and physical protection; uncertainty surrounding insurance; financial restraint and relief assistance; housing design and construction; personal health and wellbeing, options for relocation; and, positive and negatives aspects of volunteerism as well as community initiatives. Information was gathered from: (1) households in flood affected areas and (2) local and state government institutions and authorities that provide services to the community.
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