IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i11p4409-d364188.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Types of Behavior of Flood Victims around Floodwaters. Correlation with Situational and Demographic Factors

Author

Listed:
  • Michalis Diakakis

    (Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Panepistimioupoli Zografou, Athens, Greece)

Abstract

Recently, human behavior around floodwaters has been acknowledged as one of the factors that influence the risk of fatal incidents. The present study analyzes the behavior of flood victims by developing a systematic classification of their actions at the time of the flood. Based on this taxonomy, the study examines a flood fatality database for Greece (1960–2019) to quantify the different types of behavior and to examine potential correlations with various demographical and situational factors. Results show that three-quarters of the victims exhibit a risk-taking behavior by deliberately coming in contact with floodwaters. Statistically significant associations were found between behavior and the demographics of the victims, the type surrounding environment, and the use of vehicles, indicating that certain situations and certain individuals are more prone to risk-taking behaviors than others. A statistical model shows that the behavior of a flood victim can be predicted with high accuracy by knowing certain variables of a fatal incident. The prevalence of risk-taking actions identified is a strong indication that human behavior is a crucial factor in flood mortality. The present study shows that a systematic classification of behaviors can help future interventions by highlighting the most common mechanisms of fatal incidents.

Suggested Citation

  • Michalis Diakakis, 2020. "Types of Behavior of Flood Victims around Floodwaters. Correlation with Situational and Demographic Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:4409-:d:364188
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/11/4409/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/11/4409/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Siegrist & Heinz Gutscher, 2008. "Natural Hazards and Motivation for Mitigation Behavior: People Cannot Predict the Affect Evoked by a Severe Flood," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(3), pages 771-778, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Michalis Diakakis & Michalis Skordoulis & Petros Kyriakopoulos, 2022. "Public Perceptions of Flood and Extreme Weather Early Warnings in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Michalis Diakakis & Katerina Papagiannaki, 2021. "Characteristics of Indoor Flood Fatalities: Evidence from Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Yesen Liu & Yaohuan Huang & Jinhong Wan & Zhenshan Yang & Xiaolei Zhang, 2020. "Analysis of Human Activity Impact on Flash Floods in China from 1950 to 2015," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Shi Chang & Rohan Singh Wilkho & Nasir Gharaibeh & Garett Sansom & Michelle Meyer & Francisco Olivera & Lei Zou, 2023. "Environmental, climatic, and situational factors influencing the probability of fatality or injury occurrence in flash flooding: a rare event logistic regression predictive model," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(3), pages 3957-3978, April.
    5. Katerina Papagiannaki & Michalis Diakakis & Vassiliki Kotroni & Kostas Lagouvardos & Giorgos Papagiannakis, 2021. "The Role of Water Depth Perception in Shaping Car Drivers’ Intention to Enter Floodwaters: Experimental Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rebecca E. Morss & Julie L. Demuth & Ann Bostrom & Jeffrey K. Lazo & Heather Lazrus, 2015. "Flash Flood Risks and Warning Decisions: A Mental Models Study of Forecasters, Public Officials, and Media Broadcasters in Boulder, Colorado," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(11), pages 2009-2028, November.
    2. Matteo Coronese & Davide Luzzati, 2022. "Economic impacts of natural hazards and complexity science: a critical review," LEM Papers Series 2022/13, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    3. Jantsje M. Mol & W. J. Wouter Botzen & Julia E. Blasch & Hans de Moel, 2020. "Insights into Flood Risk Misperceptions of Homeowners in the Dutch River Delta," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(7), pages 1450-1468, July.
    4. Sıdıka Tekeli‐Yeşil & Necati Dedeoğlu & Charlotte Braun‐Fahrlaender & Marcel Tanner, 2010. "Factors Motivating Individuals to Take Precautionary Action for an Expected Earthquake in Istanbul," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(8), pages 1181-1195, August.
    5. Laura K. Siebeneck & Thomas J. Cova, 2012. "Spatial and Temporal Variation in Evacuee Risk Perception Throughout the Evacuation and Return‐Entry Process," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(9), pages 1468-1480, September.
    6. Adam Burgess, 2012. "Media, Risk, and Absence of Blame for “Acts of God”: Attenuation of the European Volcanic Ash Cloud of 2010," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(10), pages 1693-1702, October.
    7. repec:cup:judgdm:v:17:y:2022:i:1:p:189-214 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Alexa Tanner & Ryan Reynolds, 2020. "The near-miss of a tsunami and an emergency evacuation: the post-exposure effects on future emergency preparedness and evacuation intentions," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 104(2), pages 1679-1693, November.
    9. Welsch, David M. & Winden, Matthew W. & Zimmer, David M., 2022. "The effect of flood mitigation spending on flood damage: Accounting for dynamic feedback," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    10. Eoin O'Neill & Finbarr Brereton & Harutyun Shahumyan & J. Peter Clinch, 2016. "The Impact of Perceived Flood Exposure on Flood‐Risk Perception: The Role of Distance," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(11), pages 2158-2186, November.
    11. Hiromi Kawasaki & Satoko Yamasaki & Mio Yamakido & Yoshihiro Murata, 2022. "Introductory Disaster Training for Aspiring Teachers: A Pilot Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, March.
    12. Joop de Boer & W. J. Wouter Botzen & Teun Terpstra, 2014. "Improving Flood Risk Communication by Focusing on Prevention‐Focused Motivation," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(2), pages 309-322, February.
    13. Qin Fan & Meri Davlasheridze, 2016. "Flood Risk, Flood Mitigation, and Location Choice: Evaluating the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(6), pages 1125-1147, June.
    14. Claudio Fabian Szlafsztein & Andréa Nazaré Barata Araújo, 2021. "Autonomous flood adaptation measures in Amazonian cities (Belem, Brazil)," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 108(1), pages 1069-1087, August.
    15. P. Bubeck & W. J. W. Botzen & J. C. J. H. Aerts, 2012. "A Review of Risk Perceptions and Other Factors that Influence Flood Mitigation Behavior," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(9), pages 1481-1495, September.
    16. Osberghaus, Daniel, 2015. "The determinants of private flood mitigation measures in Germany — Evidence from a nationwide survey," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 36-50.
    17. Wim Kellens & Ruud Zaalberg & Tijs Neutens & Wouter Vanneuville & Philippe De Maeyer, 2011. "An Analysis of the Public Perception of Flood Risk on the Belgian Coast," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(7), pages 1055-1068, July.
    18. Ruud Zaalberg & Cees Midden & Anneloes Meijnders & Teddy McCalley, 2009. "Prevention, Adaptation, and Threat Denial: Flooding Experiences in the Netherlands," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(12), pages 1759-1778, December.
    19. Luche Tadesse Ejeta & Ali Ardalan & Douglas Paton & Mehdi Yaseri, 2018. "Emotional and cognitive factors influencing flood preparedness in Dire Dawa town, Ethiopia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 93(2), pages 715-737, September.
    20. W. Kip Viscusi & Richard J. Zeckhauser, 2015. "The Relative Weights of Direct and Indirect Experiences in the Formation of Environmental Risk Beliefs," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(2), pages 318-331, February.
    21. Shivam Gupta & Sachin Modgil & Ajay Kumar & Uthayasankar Sivarajah & Zahir Irani, 2022. "Artificial intelligence and cloud-based Collaborative Platforms for Managing Disaster, extreme weather and emergency operations," Post-Print hal-04325638, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:4409-:d:364188. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.