Influence of flood risk perception and other factors on risk-reducing behaviour: a survey of municipalities along the Rhine

A survey of German public officials responsible for municipal flood management along the Rhine has been carried out to assess their perceptions of flood risk and protective behaviour. A sociopsychological framework based on expectancy-valence models was used to develop an overview of potentially important factors in prompting action to avoid flood damage. The applied framework was confirmed as a useful tool to get more insight into the risk-reducing processes in the public-sector sphere. The study delivers valuable guidance on those factors, which should be given more attention in order to improve the level of preparedness and to reduce flood losses. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).