How Flood Experience and Risk Perception Influences Protective Actions and Behaviours among Canadian Homeowners

Area of Science:

• Environmental Policy
• Risk Management
• Social Science

Background:

• Canada is transitioning flood management policies, shifting financial burdens to homeowners.
• Significant financial losses from flooding necessitate strategies for property owners to manage risks.
• Existing literature on flood risk behaviors informed the study's approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how Canadians' flood experience, risk perceptions, and demographics influence their adoption of property level flood protection (PLFP).
• To assess homeowner willingness to assume greater responsibility for flood risk.
• To inform policy development for effective flood risk management in Canada.

Main Methods:

• A bilingual, national survey was conducted in Spring 2016 with 2300 respondents across all 10 Canadian provinces.
• Survey design was based on established theories of flood risk behavior and management determinants.
• Statistical analysis examined the relationship between socio-demographics, flood experience, risk perception, and PLFP intentions/adoption.

Main Results:

• Property owners demonstrated a reluctance to accept increased financial responsibility for flood damage.
• Flood experience and risk perception were key factors influencing intentions towards property level flood protection (PLFP).
• Socio-demographic variables showed varying correlations with flood risk management behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Canadian property owners are not prepared to embrace the increased risk-sharing envisioned by current flood management policy changes.
• Findings align with trends in other OECD countries, suggesting transferable strategies for encouraging homeowner engagement in flood risk management.
• Policy interventions should focus on enhancing homeowner capacity and promoting collaborative risk-sharing approaches.