134
6 Prospects: Approaches of Integrated Management
revealed that the characteristics of the risk of these hazards are perceived as similar, for
example, well known and of less personal vulnerability. Thus, the consequences a hazard
can have or impose on the social system depends strongly on the personal reaction and
preparedness to prevent damages; it is not only a matter of the political and administrative
body.
The risk perception is a fundamental base for the decisions and behavior concerning natural
risks and their management of natural risks. Consequently, the risk perception of the inhabitants
of a community has been taken into consideration concerning disaster management planning at
community level. For the development of effective information strategies on protective measurements (risk and communications policies), the risk perception of the targeted group and as
well influences on risk perception should be known. (Plapp, 2001, p. 2)
Taking these remarks into account, the results of the investigation conducted by Kaiser
(2006) have shown that risk perception is a function of time, but not necessarily correlated
with higher awareness resulting in better self-preparedness or precautionary action. People
who experienced the disasters of 1953 or 1962 are more aware of the risk living in lowlying areas, but this did not necessarily lead to precautionary measures (Kaiser, 2006). A
comprehensive study about risk perception and the detailed results for the southern North
Sea can be found in Kaiser et al. (2004).
Recently, the multidisciplinary research project “Climate Change and preventive Risk
and Coastal Protection Management at the German North Sea coast (KRIM)” studied the
questions: What are the requirements of coastal protection to be integrated in ICZM under
the boundary conditions of an accelerated sea level rise and increased storminess? And
what are the interpreting pattern and decision-making processes that influence the integration process? The KRIM project was divided into three parts: (a) political-administrative
risk, (b) scientific risk, (c) public risk (Schuchardt and Schirmer, 2007).
The main results of the sub project “Climate Change and Public” are congruent with
the findings published by Kaiser (2006). Almost 95 % of the interviewees agreed that the
consequences of climate change will force increased efforts in coastal protection (Peters
and Heinrichs, 2007). “The analysis of cognitive reactions of test persons reading an article
about coastal protection confirms the risk perception of storm surges as a relevant risk and
a high confidence in present coastal protection” (Peters and Heinrichs, 2007, p. 127–128).
Another compartment comprises the reduction of risk, which can be applied prior to,
during and after the flooding event. The intention of coastal protection or, in general, water management comprises the avoidance of disastrous impacts of flood events (pre-flood
reduction). Contingency planning and emergency aid cover the part of the reduction of impacts of flood events, which means to reduce the consequences after the failure of safety
infrastructure either by physical measures or by financial and communicative activities.
With post-flood reduction in the last part of the compartment risk reduction the recovery
after an event happened is meant. After completion of the immediate emergency aid the
phase of recovery has to start which is called the post-flood reduction.
6 Prospects: Approaches of Integrated Management
revealed that the characteristics of the risk of these hazards are perceived as similar, for
example, well known and of less personal vulnerability. Thus, the consequences a hazard
can have or impose on the social system depends strongly on the personal reaction and
preparedness to prevent damages; it is not only a matter of the political and administrative
body.
The risk perception is a fundamental base for the decisions and behavior concerning natural
risks and their management of natural risks. Consequently, the risk perception of the inhabitants
of a community has been taken into consideration concerning disaster management planning at
community level. For the development of effective information strategies on protective measurements (risk and communications policies), the risk perception of the targeted group and as
well influences on risk perception should be known. (Plapp, 2001, p. 2)
Taking these remarks into account, the results of the investigation conducted by Kaiser
(2006) have shown that risk perception is a function of time, but not necessarily correlated
with higher awareness resulting in better self-preparedness or precautionary action. People
who experienced the disasters of 1953 or 1962 are more aware of the risk living in lowlying areas, but this did not necessarily lead to precautionary measures (Kaiser, 2006). A
comprehensive study about risk perception and the detailed results for the southern North
Sea can be found in Kaiser et al. (2004).
Recently, the multidisciplinary research project “Climate Change and preventive Risk
and Coastal Protection Management at the German North Sea coast (KRIM)” studied the
questions: What are the requirements of coastal protection to be integrated in ICZM under
the boundary conditions of an accelerated sea level rise and increased storminess? And
what are the interpreting pattern and decision-making processes that influence the integration process? The KRIM project was divided into three parts: (a) political-administrative
risk, (b) scientific risk, (c) public risk (Schuchardt and Schirmer, 2007).
The main results of the sub project “Climate Change and Public” are congruent with
the findings published by Kaiser (2006). Almost 95 % of the interviewees agreed that the
consequences of climate change will force increased efforts in coastal protection (Peters
and Heinrichs, 2007). “The analysis of cognitive reactions of test persons reading an article
about coastal protection confirms the risk perception of storm surges as a relevant risk and
a high confidence in present coastal protection” (Peters and Heinrichs, 2007, p. 127–128).
Another compartment comprises the reduction of risk, which can be applied prior to,
during and after the flooding event. The intention of coastal protection or, in general, water management comprises the avoidance of disastrous impacts of flood events (pre-flood
reduction). Contingency planning and emergency aid cover the part of the reduction of impacts of flood events, which means to reduce the consequences after the failure of safety
infrastructure either by physical measures or by financial and communicative activities.
With post-flood reduction in the last part of the compartment risk reduction the recovery
after an event happened is meant. After completion of the immediate emergency aid the
phase of recovery has to start which is called the post-flood reduction.