Response 2: Flood risk communication

The sight of people walking, driving or playing in floodwaters is a source of great frustration for the emergency services. With populations in flood-prone areas growing and the frequency and intensity of floods increasing, flood safety has never been so important. For community engagement and communications personnel such as Katie Moulton from the New South Wales SES, finding ways to connect with people around flood safety is a constant challenge. In this video Katie learns about the psychology behind people’s responses to floods and warning messages from Hon A/Prof Mel Taylor as they visit areas flooded in the Hawkesbury region of NSW in March 2021, and speak with Kevin Jones, Unit Commander of Hawkesbury SES. This Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC research shows that there are more opportunities to cut through and influence the decisions of those faced with floodwaters to stop them before they enter.