How structural mitigation shapes risk perception and affects decision-making

This paper reviews the relationships between risk perception and structural measures in an Australian context in three respects: (i) opinions about authorities' ability to mitigate flood risks; (ii) the role of flood experience in shaping views on risk; and (iii) perspectives on the ways in which structural measures shape decision-making pertaining to protective action. The main finding of this analysis is that the study participants do not suffer from the 'levee paradox'. Most take precautionary steps to guard against residual flood risk. Such actions, however, do not mean that there is a lack of trust in structural measures to reduce significant flood risk. The majority of the respondents agreed about the necessity of engineering structures to mitigate inherent flood risk. This support, though, does not extend to their management. Losses during major flooding in southeast Queensland, Australia, in 2010-11 were attributed primarily by residents to operational decisions concerning dam water releases.