Yuki TAKAHASHI

Effects of Flooding Information about Familiar Local Places on Residents’ Evacuation Behavior

Kazushi SANO

Despite the issuance of evacuation information by local governments during flood events, many residents do not perceive a sense of urgency and fail to take evacuation actions. This study defines “local information” as information on the flooding conditions of places that are familiar to residents and aims to clarify how such information influences residents’ evacuation intentions.
First, to understand the current practices of governmental information provision, a case of disaster prevention radio broadcasts in Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture, during the 2019 Typhoon was analyzed. The results showed that local information indicating specific locations, such as the flooding of a riverside ground, was included in the broadcasts, suggesting that such information can help residents recognize the seriousness of the situation. However, interviews with seven municipalities in Niigata Prefecture revealed that governments face difficulties in actively disseminating local information due to concerns about misunderstandings, administrative burden, and the need to ensure prompt and concise communication.
Next, interviews were conducted with neighborhood associations in Nagaoka City to examine the potential use of local information in information sharing among residents. The results suggested that in areas where the time available for evacuation decisions is limited, the effectiveness of location-specific information may also be limited. In contrast, in areas where widely recognized landmarks such as shrines exist, the flooding conditions of these landmarks could function as effective local information.
Furthermore, a questionnaire survey was conducted with residents of two neighborhood associations in Nagaoka City. Statistical analysis showed that messages containing local information tended to encourage actions toward evacuation compared with conventional information. While local information did not significantly affect residents’ general perception of disaster preparedness, it influenced their decision-making regarding evacuation behavior during imminent flooding. These results suggest that local information can serve as effective information that encourages evacuation-related actions among residents who already have some knowledge of evacuation.