Public Perceptions of Flood and Extreme Weather Early Warnings in Greece

Abstract

A crucial component for the success of any early warning system for flood and extreme weather phenomena is understanding people’s perceptions and views of the warning processes and approaches. This paper aims to explore public perceptions on flood and extreme weather warnings as well as factors that influence these perceptions in Greece, a characteristic example of a country that has suffered several climate-related disasters in the recent past. To this end, a survey of 427 residents of the country was conducted between April 2021 and June 2021. The collected data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inductive statistics. The results showed that certain factors affect participants’ views on early warnings, including demographics, perceived knowledge on floods, flood risk perception, and perceived self-efficacy. The above factors present statistically significant correlations with the perceived reliability and effectiveness of warnings, as well the degree to which participants perceived the expected phenomena as a threat to their well-being or a signal to take preventive actions. These correlations are described in detail in the present study, together with certain exceptions that exist. The findings are a strong indication that public perception has the potential to impact early warning systems’ actual effectiveness, leading to certain practical implications for their improvement, particularly in multi-hazard, climate change-sensitive areas like the Mediterranean region.