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Risk Assessment, Emergency Preparedness and Response to Hazards: The Case of the 1997 Red River Valley Flood, Canada

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  • C. Emdad Haque

Abstract

The prevention and/or mitigation offlood disasters requires continual research, numerouscapital investment decisions, and high-qualitymaintenance and modifications of flood-controlstructures. In addition, institutional and privatepreparedness is needed. The experience offlood-control in North America has shown mixedoutcomes: while flood frequency has declined duringthe last few decades, the economic losses havecontinued to rise. Recent catastrophic floods havealso been linked to major structural interventions inthe region. The flood diversions may cause harmfuleffects upon the floodplain inhabitants by influencingflood levels in areas which are not normallyflood-prone. The increasing vulnerability of thefloodplain inhabitants poses new challenges and raisesquestions concerning the existing risk assessmentmethods, institutional preparedness and responses todisaster-related public emergencies, and local-levelpublic involvement in flood mitigation efforts. In the context of the catastrophic 1997 floods of theRed River Valley, Manitoba, Canada, this researchfocuses on two aspects of flood-related emergencygovernance and management: (i) the functions andeffectiveness of control structures, and (ii) theroles, responsibilities and effectiveness oflegislative and other operational measures. The studyconcludes that the flood-loss mitigation measures,both in terms of effects of control structures andinstitutional interventions for emergency evacuation,were not fully effective for ensuring the well-beingand satisfaction of floodplain inhabitants. Althoughorganizational preparedness and mobilization to copewith the 1997 flood emergency was considerable, theirsuccess during the onset of the flood event waslimited. Lack of communication and understandingbetween institutions, a reluctance to implementup-to-date regulations, and minimal publicparticipation in the emergency decision-making processall contributed to the difficulties experienced byfloodplain inhabitants. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 2000

Suggested Citation

  • C. Emdad Haque, 2000. "Risk Assessment, Emergency Preparedness and Response to Hazards: The Case of the 1997 Red River Valley Flood, Canada," 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. 21(2), pages 225-245, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:21:y:2000:i:2:p:225-245
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1008108208545
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. C. Emdad Haque & Khandakar Hasan Mahmud & David Walker, 2022. "Understanding Flood Risk and Vulnerability of a Place: Estimating Prospective Loss and Damage Using the HAZUS Model," Geographies, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-23, July.
    2. Huiquan Wang & Hong Ye & Lu Liu & Jixia Li, 2022. "Evaluation and Obstacle Analysis of Emergency Response Capability in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-25, August.
    3. Jobaed Ragib Zaman & C. Emdad Haque & David Walker, 2022. "Local-Level Flood Hazard Management in Canada: An Assessment of Institutional Structure and Community Engagement in the Red River Valley of Manitoba," Geographies, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-26, December.
    4. Mauerhofer, Volker, 2016. "Public participation in environmental matters: Compendium, challenges and chances globally," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 481-491.
    5. Samuel Brody & Jung Kang & Sarah Bernhardt, 2010. "Identifying factors influencing flood mitigation at the local level in Texas and Florida: the role of organizational capacity," 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. 52(1), pages 167-184, January.
    6. C. Emdad Haque & Mahed-Ul-Islam Choudhury & Md. Sowayib Sikder, 2019. "“Events and failures are our only means for making policy changes”: learning in disaster and emergency management policies in Manitoba, Canada," 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. 98(1), pages 137-162, August.

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