Flood Risk Awareness: An Experiment Using School Students to Inform Families and Friends

Communication plays an essential role in risk awareness when the gap between the risk perception and the actual risk depends on correct knowledge. This study investigates public risk awareness and public participation, as part of the European project Integrative flood risk governance approach for improvement of risk awareness and increased public participation (IMRA). The focus is on perceptions of flood risk awareness in the river basin of Chiascio (Umbria-Italy). The survey method is used to analyze flood risk awareness perception before and after an experimental communication intervention with school students. First, the authors examine flood risk awareness of school student families and friends across the population sample region. Then the authors use a unique combination of exercises - a role play game, an exhibition, and a public competition - to improve risk awareness in school children and their families. Finally, the authors test the effectiveness of this intervention in terms of flood risk awareness with the families and friends of the school students.