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Dr Catherine Butler &
Dr Kate Walker-Springett
Exploring the dynamics of change in the aftermath of crisis: The case
of the 2013/14 winter floods
Major UK floods; 1947; 1952/3; 1973; 1998; 2000; 2004; 2007; 2012; 2013/14
At risk: 5.2 million homes
Cost: £1.1 billion / €1.54 billion annually in flood damages
UK climate projections - increased flood events
Imperatives for long-term adaptation
Previous research has theorised that events offer opportunity for change (Kingdon, 1995; Baumgartner and Jones, 1993) as assemblages of publics, knowledge and politics are brought into being (Whatmore and Landstrom, 2011)
Flood events have been identified as catalysts for the transformation of environmental policy and human behaviour (Johnson et al. 2004; 2005; Spence et al. 2011)
Little research looking in-depth at the processes of response as they happen and over time
Role of major flood events in providing impetus for longer term adaptations to climate change across scales (national government – individuals)
Photograph by Matilda Temperley
Well established links between blue space and wellbeing (Voelker and Kistemann, 2011; 2013; White, 2010)
Strong evidence for the negative impact of floods on psychological health (Tapsell and Tunstall, 2001; 2008; Reacher et al. 2004 )
Less longitudinal research Role of individual and community
resilience
Photograph by Matilda Temperley
How do processes of response in the aftermath of flood events determine the extent of change and continuity in public policy, FRM practice and citizen action?
What are the implications over the longer-term and for climate change adaptation?
How do floods impact on wellbeing over time?
What is the role of ‘community’ in supporting resilience to environmental change?
Research Questions
Winter Floods 2013/14
In-depth longitudinal research – Somerset case study
Semi-structured interviews with flood affected public and flood professionals (n=109), Aug-Oct 2014 & April-May 2015
Two discussion workshops with flood affected public and flood professionals (June 2015)
Locally representative survey of two flood affected areas – Somerset and Boston (n=1000), June 2015
Photograph by Matilda Temperley
Somerset
Major social divisions in the aftermath of the flooding – between authorities and flood affected people (within and between communities)
The research highlights how these were, in part, underpinned by differences in ways of viewing the problem and the causes
Social Divisions and Conflict
STOP THE FLOODINGDREDGE THE RIVERS!
Social Divisions and Conflict
“So if you’re looking for the causes of the floods, the cause of the flood was that it rained a lot. Simply that.” SH5 Conservation Organisation
“That area floods every year anyway, it’s just that it flooded to a greater extent because there was more rain.” SH19 Engineering Consultancy
Social Divisions and Conflict
“So this time of year … you would see large tractors and dredging machines cleaning all the rhyne system out, which meant the water could get away to at least the pumping station ... That ceased about 15 years ago and most of the ditches are overgrown and not really cleaned out very much, and the Department of Environment just kind of crossed them off their list, I think.” P25
“This land has been managed since Roman times, and since the founding the inauguration or whatever it is of the Environment Agency, it's just stopped. Nobody voted for it being stopped, it was very undemocratic.” P4
Social and Political Action
“The council has the 20 year plan now and that’s looking forward at what they can do at each stage but that’s very dependent on getting money for it and also having the political will…” P20
“I think there is just the beginnings now, of a rebuilding of a kind of wider stakeholder approach and one of the things I think is worth dwelling on, is how that happens now in the face of smaller government, so a much more blended leadership or stakeholder approach across both government agencies, state money but also civil society.”
SH12 non-governmental organisation
Social and Political Debate
They get money from government and they did dredging and I personally don't know whether the dredging in itself was money well spent, I'm no engineer but it’s been done, I'm sure the capacity of the river is increased but there’s probably lots of other things that could have been done, which weren’t but they respond to the loud voice of the popular mob, don’t they? Well they did. P27
“There's virtually no recognition of climate change at all. That could alter the picture quite drastically and alter the whole sustainability of the levels and moors and the way it is currently managed. But that has not been incorporated in the 20 Year Plan. There doesn’t seem to be any push or any appetite for factoring in climate change and looking at the long term picture”. SH23 Government body
Event offered an opportunity for scrutiny of government action and citizen engagement
Highly stressful, emotionally changed periods after floods
Closing down of debate and efforts to address immediate issues, rather than providing impetus for longer-term adaptations
Implications for long term
adaptations
Impacts on well-being
Wellbeing detrimentally effected consistent with previous research
Longer-term effects evident
Secondary stressors, curtailed futures, loss of home and sense of place, anxiety about water and rain
Wellbeing and emotional effects not limited to those that have been directly affected or flooded
Importance of community support during floods but dissipates over time
Complete analysis to be undertaken Sept – Feb
Feb/March 2016 key findings report
Moving Forward…The Many Faces of Flooding: Science, Policy, Art
Alumni Auditorium
