Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Flood risk perception in Central-Eastern European members states of the EU: a review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Central-Eastern European (CEE) post-communist member states of the European Union have experienced several catastrophic floods during the last two decades, resulting in further discussions on implementation of the European Flood Directive (EC in Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks. European Community 2007). A particular issue being discussed is the level of public involvement in flood risk reduction because these countries are burdened by former highly centralized policy resulting in certain specifics in flood risk perception by the public, stakeholders and authorities. Through this paper, we try to fill the gap in current understanding of limits in flood risk reduction in CEE countries by analysing the current research on flood risk perception. We reviewed 19 studies published between 1990 and 2014 that were analysed regarding determinants of flood risk perception and the role of individual and public involvement in flood risk reduction. Although the research agenda itself seems to reflect the current trends in Western Europe, the results display significant differences. Based on our analysis, we argue that the path dependencies in flood risk perception in CEE countries results in a “thin” concept of flood risk reduction. This concept can be characterized by (a) considering risk reduction as a temporary event rather than a process, (b) a reductionist view on risk reduction measures with prevailing financial tools and (c) strong reliance upon the regional and national authorities in terms of both the risk communication and prevention measures. This gives an impetus for further research on tailor-made strategies to overcome these limits and facilitate the implementation of the European Flood Directive.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armaş I, Avram E (2009) Perception of flood risk in Danube Delta, Romania. Nat Hazards 50(2):269–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armaş I, Avram E (2012) Cognitive and emotional aspects in evaluating the flood risk. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 33:939–943

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biernacki W, Działek J, Janas K, Padło T (2008) Community attitudes towards extreme phenomena relative to place of residence and previous experience. In: Liszewski S (ed) The influence of extreme phenomena on the natural environment and human living conditions. Łódzkie Towarzystwo Naukowe, Łódz, pp 207–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanska-Warmuz R (2001) A study of the knowledge and behavior of Brzesko inhabitants after the flood in 1997. In: Gruntfest E, Handmer J (eds) Coping with flash floods, NATO science series, vol 77. Springer, Berlin, pp 53–60

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Botzen WJW, Aerts JCJH, van den Bergh JCJM (2009) Willingness of homeowners to mitigate climate risk through insurance. Ecol Econ 68(8–9):2265–2277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford RA, O’Sullivan JJ, Van der Craats IM, Krywkow J, Rotko P, Aaltonen J, Bonaiuto M, De Dominicis S, Waylen K, Schelfaut K (2012) Risk perception: issues for flood management in Europe. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 12(7):2299–2309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brilly M, Polic M (2005) Public perception of flood risks, flood forecasting and mitigation. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 5(3):345–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruen M, Gebre FA (2001) Worldwide public perception of flood risk in urban areas and it’s consequences for hydrological design in Ireland. Flood risk management proceedings Irish National Hydrology Seminar, Tullamore, Nov 2001

  • Bubeck P, Botzen WJW, Aerts JCJH (2012) A review of risk perceptions and other factors that influence flood mitigation behavior. Risk Anal 32(9):1481–1495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Čamrová L (2006) How to evaluate the effectiveness of public expenditures on floods? (in Czech with English abstract). Vodní hospodářství 9:316–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Carmin J, VanDeveer S (2005) EU enlargement an the environment? Institutional change and environmental policy in central and eastern Europe. Routledge, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutter SL, Boruff BJ, Shirley WL (2003) Social vulnerability to environmental hazards. Soc Sci Q 84:242–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dostál P (2010) Environment and regional cohesion in the enlarged European Union: differences in public opinion. In: Anděl J, Bičík I, Dostál P, Lipský Z, Shahneshin SG (eds) Landscape modelling: geographical space, transformation and future scenarios. Springer, Amsterdam, pp 59–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Duží B, Vikhrov D, Kelman I, Stojanov R, Jakubínský J (2015) Household flood risk reduction in the Czech Republic. Mitig Adapt Strat Glob Change 20(4): 499–504

  • Działek J, Biernacki W, Bokwa A (2013) Challenges to social capacity building in flood-affected areas of southern Poland. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 13:2555–2566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EC (2007) Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks. European Community

  • EC (2010) A Community approach on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters. European Community

  • EC (2011) EU Strategy for supporting disaster risk reduction in developing countries 2011–2014. European Community

  • EEA (2010) Mapping the impacts of natural hazards and technological accidents in Europe. An overview of the last decade. EEA technical report no 13/2010. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen

  • Elander I, Gustafsson M (2006) The re-emergence of local self-government in Central Europe. Eur J Polit Res 23:295–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eurobarometer (2008) Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment, no. 295-EB62.1, European Community

  • Eurobarometer (2011) Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment, no. 365-EB75.2, European Community

  • Eurobarometer (2014) Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment, no. 416-EB81.3, European Community

  • Giddens A (1984) The constitution of society. Polity Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Giovarelli R, Bledsoe D (2001) Land reform in Eastern Europe. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Guha-Sapir D, Below R, Hoyois Ph—EM-DAT (2015) International Disaster Database. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. www.emdat.be

  • Hadler M, Wohlkönig P (2012) Environmental behaviours in the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany between 1993 and 2010: macro-level trends and individual-level determinants compared. Czech Sociol Rev 48:667–692

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall J, Arheimer B, Borga M, Brázdil R, Claps P, Kiss A, Kjeldsen TR, Kriaučiuniené J, Kundzewicz ZW, Lang M, Llasat MC, Macdonald N, McIntyre N, Mediero L, Merz B, Merz R, Molnar P, Montanari A, Neuhold C, Parajka J, Perdigão RAP, Plavcová L, Rogger M, Salinas JL, Sauquet E, Schär C, Szolgay J, Viglione A, Blöschl G (2014) Understanding flood regime changes in Europe: a state-of-the-art assessment. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 18:2735–2772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann T, Juepner R (2014) The flood risk management plan: an essential step towards the institutionalization of a paradigm shift. Int J Water Gov 2(1):107–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartvigsen M (2013) Land reform and land fragmentation in Central and Eastern Europe. Land Use Policy 36:330–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hladný J, Krátká M, Kašpárek L (2004) August 2002 catastrophic flood in the Czech Republic. Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic, Prague

  • Hunka A (2008) Flood risk perception and place attachment: a case study in Poland research. In: Freude am Fluss final conference “space for the river, space for people”. Radboud University, Nijmegen

  • Jakubcová A, Grežo H, Hrešková A, Petrovič F (2014) Impacts of flooding on the quality of life in rural regions of southern Slovakia. Appl Res Qual Life. doi:10.1007/s11482-014-9363-x

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaniasty K (2011) Predicting social psychological well-being following trauma: the role of predisaster social support. Psychol Trauma: Theory Res Pract Policy 4(1):22–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kellens W, Terpstra T, De Maeyer P (2013) Perception and communication of flood risks: a systematic review of empirical research. Risk Anal 33(1):24–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiisel M, Vihalemma T (2014) Why the transformation of the risk message is a healthy sign: a model of the reception of warning messages. Health Risk Soc 16(3):277–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knuth D, Kehl D, Hulse L, Schmidt S (2014) Risk perception, experience, and objective risk: a cross-national study with European emergency survivors. Risk Anal 34(7):1286–1298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koutský J, Raška P, Dostál P, Herrschel T (eds) (2014) Transitions in regional science: regions in transitions: regional research in central Europe. Wolters Kluwer, Prague

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundzewicz ZW, Szamalek K, Kowalczak P (1999) The great flood of 1997 in Poland. Hydrol Sci J 44:855–870

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamond J, Proverbs D, Hammond F (2009) Accessibility of flood risk insurance in the UK: confusion, competition and complacency. J Risk Res 12(6):825–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loučková B (2014) Eastern European perspective on the environmental aspects in current flood risk management: The example of the Czech Republic. In: Bhaduri A, Bogardi J, Leentvaar J, Marx S (eds) The global water system in the anthropocene. Springer Water, New York, pp 183–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Lumbroso D, Asselman N, Bakonyi P, Gaume E, Logtmeijer Ch, Nobis A, Woods-Ballard B (2007) Review report of operational flood management methods and models. FloodSite Consortium, WL Delft. <http://www.floodsite.net>

  • Marquart-Pyatt ST (2012) Environmental concerns in cross-national context: how do mass publics in central and eastern Europe compare with other regions of the world? Czech Sociol Rev 48:641–666

    Google Scholar 

  • Mudelsee M, Börngen M, Tetzlaff G, Grünewald W (2003) No upward trends in the occurrence of extreme floods in central Europe. Nature 425:166–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newig J, Challies E, Jager N, Kochskämper E (2014) What role for public participation in implementing the EU floods directive? A comparison with the water framework directive, early evidence from Germany and a Research Agenda. Environ Policy Gov 24(4):275–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman P, Thornley A (1996) Urban planning in Europe. International competition, national systems and planning projects. Routledge, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pavlínek P, Pickles J (2000) Environmental transitions: transformation and ecological defence in central and eastern Europe. Routledge, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelling M (2003) The vulnerability of cities: natural disasters and social resilience. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Polic M, Brilly M, Tušak M (1998) Influence of the living site on the perception of flood risk. Acta Hydrotech FGG 16(23):85–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Raška P (2013) Political regulations and social perception of natural risks: “risk society” the Czech experience and the European context. Acta Univ Carol Geogr 48(2):61–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Raška P, Brázdil R (2015) Participatory responses to historical flash floods and their relevance for current risk reduction: a view from a post-communist country. Area 47(2):166–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romanescu G, Nistor I (2011) The effects of the July 2005 catastrophic inundations in the Siret River’s Lower Watershed, Romania. Nat Hazards 57(2):345–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheaffer JR, Mullan JD, Hinch NB (2002) Encouraging wise use of flood plains with market-based incentives. Environment 44(1):32–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sjöberg L (2000) Factors in risk perception. Risk Anal 20(1):1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slavíková L, Jílková J (2011) Implementing the public participation principle into water management in the Czech Republic: a critical analysis. Reg Stud 45:545–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slovic P (1987) Perception of risk. Science 236:280–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • StarFlood (2014) Towards improving the implementation of integrated flood risk management. Policy brief 1. <www.starflood.eu>

  • Svahn Ch (2013) Risk Perception and Communication: a study on how people living in the Tisza river Basin, hungary perceive the risk of floods and how the flood risk communication between authorities and the public could be improved. M.A. thesis, Stockholm University, Stockholm

  • Terpstra T, Lindell MK, Gutteling JM (2009) Does communicating (flood) risk affect (flood) risk perceptions? Results of a quasi-experimental study. Risk Anal 2(8):1141–1155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turok I, Mykhnenko V (2007) The trajectories of European cities, 1960–2005. Cities 24(3):165–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Aalst MK (2006) The impacts of climate change on the risk of natural disasters. Disasters 30(1):5–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vari A (2002) Public involvement in flood risk management in Hungary. J Risk Res 5(3):211–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vari A, Linnerooth-Bayer J, Ferencz Z (2003) Stakeholder views on flood risk management in Hungary’s upper Tisza Basin. Risk Anal 23(3):585–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wachinger G, Renn O, Begg Ch, Kuhlicke Ch (2013) The risk perception Paradox—Implications for governance and communication of natural hazards. Risk Anal 33(6):1049–1065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiejaczka Ł, Piróg D, Soja R, Serwa M (2014) Community perception of the Klimkówka reservoir in Poland. Int J Water Resour Dev 30(4):649–661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaleskiewicz T, Piskorz Z, Borkowska A (2002) Fear or money? Decisions on insuring oneself against flooding. Risk Decis Policy 7:221–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Project Eupro II No. LE14010 “CrossFloods” under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic. I am greatly indebted to Petr Dostál, whose inspiring comments helped to shape the early idea of this research. The authors would like to thank language editing services for English style revisions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic

    Pavel Raška

Authors
  1. Pavel Raška
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pavel Raška.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Raška, P. Flood risk perception in Central-Eastern European members states of the EU: a review. Nat Hazards 79, 2163–2179 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1929-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1929-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation