Objeto de estudio

As discussed in the above subsection, the communities expressed inability to take sufficient actions which would ensure that their properties and families were protected from floods. The interviewees and participants were asked to comment on whether actions should be taken by others to avoid or reduce damage to property and possessions or danger to lives, and if so, by whom and why. They were further asked to describe the type of actions. Their views on this topic ranged from personal responsibilities to the responsibilities of the local authorities, emergency services and the Government at different times: before, during and after the floods in relation to limiting the impact of flooding on their properties and lives.

It is noteworthy that none of the participants mentioned that they would call any agency when they received a flood warning although they expressed their expectations about

group said ‘never mind’ which from his tone implied that they were not very confident or willing to call any agency, whereas one participant recalled calling the police for help but being told that the police were monitoring the river. In contrast, there were many mentions of community, friends and neighbours supporting each other. In general it was realised that the communities at flood risk had a ‘community spirit’ and were willing to help and support each other whenever possible.

In terms of responsibility with respect to flood risk, a common view amongst all the participants was that much more needed to be done immediately before, during and after a flooding event. However, there was considerable variation among interviewees and focus group participants as to whose responsibility this was. Some of the interviewees thought that it was their own responsibility but local councils had a role to play, for example,

“Personally, I think, it is more up to the person who owns the property to take the right measures but then again the council should be pretty and up to date with flooding as well and give you advice… [I would expect] someone from the council to come to my property and give me advice and explain what kind of risks I am prone to, because they’ll have maps, etc. and have experts, that’ll look into that”. [Male, 20, Joppa, Edinburgh]

and

“I suppose if you live by the river, there is an element of personal responsibility. Having lived with the river and got to know it, I think that to be caught out by a flood, there is a degree of personal responsibility in that…

but I think the relevant authority should also take measures” [Male, 42, Stirling]

The above interviewee further thought that authorities should have responsibility for vulnerable people only and that they should have a plan for action as,

“The only people, I do feel, the authorities have a responsibility for [are] the vulnerable people… somebody was very elderly, disabled, incapable…I think that it would be a responsibility of the authority to have a list [of] those people and be able to come to their assistance” … [Male, 42, Stirling]

However, in contrast, most focus group participants were of the view that they, at an individual level, could not take much action to protect their properties from flooding, for example,

“I think people can do what they, you know, what they can do in terms of sand bags and whatever. But, if the river’s coming up in a, you know, 3, 4 feet whatever; there is not much you can do. It has to be done on a wider level.” [Female, Stirling]

and

“You can get sand bags and I believe there are companies... that you can buy things... that will seal off your doors so that you can cope with a small flood, you know, not very... you know, few inches of water on a temporary basis…and I think that they [the council] probably will have to send [those products to] us at some stage” [Female, Bonnington]

They expected that others, particularly the local authorities, needed to take actions to protect them from the effects of flooding. The type of actions they expected can broadly be categorised as actions before, during and after floods.

Before any floods or which some referred to as ‘flood season’, they thought that the waterways like rivers, drains and culverts needed to be cleared of blockages and debris and prepared for heavy rainfall while stressing that relevant responsible agencies like the local councils and the Government rather than individuals needed to do so, for example,

“Yeah and I think as well that there needs to be some responsibility taken for the actual river. The water board or whoever owns it, the council or whoever owns the actual land, should be doing inspections, you know, on a regular basis when the flood risk is goanna be at a high level” [Female, Murrayfield, Edinburgh].

or

“... the drains and culverts being regularly cleaned and I mean that is just such a basic obvious thing to do. You know, if they were done, say they were

quickly so it’s very basic... and that’s not something that individuals can do themselves. It’s something they can only make pressure on [the council] at the last minutes” [Female, Stockbridge, Edinburgh]

One of the participants from the Murrayfield focus group stated that the Government and the local councils needed to take more responsibility and protect them from floods.

He thought that they were not acting on their responsibilities. Further, controlling development in floodplains and acting on people’s concerns was also identified as an area where Government should take more responsibility, for example,

“I think Scottish Executive[ or government [inaudible] these days could help with regard to planning policy and legislation…that they shouldn’t allow things to be built on floodplains which will inevitably help” [Female, Stockbridge]

Others identified areas where local authorities should take responsibility prior to flood events:

“So people’s concerns, people have concerns, they should be dealt with. So if somebody’s phoning about a car, fell-over tree... the council should act and tell the person that they are acting. You know what I mean, as quick, as quick as they can. [Male, Bonnington, Edinburgh]

On the type of actions that could be taken during any flooding events, the participants expected that the local council and the emergency services should have a flood action plan and that the help during flooding events should be well organised with the emergency services, such as the fire & rescue services and the police, having been duly prepared. Further, the majority of the participants were unaware of any flood action plan for their areas, for example,

“They [the council and the emergency services] don’t seem to have a flood plan for Stirling so they are unlikely to have flood plans for any other villages” [Female, Callander]

and

As identified in the earlier section, use of sandbags was the most popular flood protection measure among the participants. But many participants cited problems and issues related to locating sources of sandbags, for example,

“Well, I think, some action needs to be taken by others. Certainly, obviously the sand bags need to be provided by the council because we can’t all have our own supply of sand bags in our gardens to hand. You know, that’s not just practical” [Female, Murrayfield, Edinburgh]

and

“I don’t know where I would get those sand bags. Would council deliver it? I think we could have a…some storage of sand bags so people could go [and collect them]”. [Female, Murrayfield, Edinburgh]

The participants also recounted many instances of inadequate supply of sandbags and expected these to be delivered to them because of the effort needed in filling them up, and lifting and heaving them, mainly so when the elderly and disabled as well as women were involved, for example,

“There needs to be sufficient supply of them [sand bags] to make sure that all the people who feel that they are gonna be at risk can barricade their property. Because the last time, you know, people were fighting for them, there wasn’t enough [supply]... I was in tears, yeah fighting to get the bag, yeah. So I think that’s one of the measures that need to be put into place”

[Female, Murrayfield, Edinburgh]

Participants also mentioned that more formal support, for example, with moving possessions and sandbags, needed to be made available to elders and vulnerable people:

“You know, not everybody will be able to do that. Because elderly people obviously wouldn’t be able to manage to carry them. But, you know, I think, something should be in place for able bodied and less able bodied people to benefit” [Female, Murrayfield, Edinburgh]

Going further, one interviewee also delineated an evacuation plan for flood emergencies for elderly people:

“It’s not so much, you know, you get Paramedics in Green. … For all I know, they have got a list [of elderly people] and if there is a flood warning they [should] go around the streets and pick them all up and …and if they do that, it’s a good idea. But if they don’t do it, it would be a good idea and I would like the credit for it, thank you… [Male, 42, Stirling]

Further, some participants thought that local councils needed to be more accessible:

“We have judged it 10 O’clock at night [that we need sandbags] and decided not to get the sand bags because the council depot will not be open” [Female, Stirling]

One participant from the Murrayfield focus group complained that after the floods they were inconvenienced a lot but they did not get any support from the local council.

Further, the participants thought that there should be financial help available to them for flood proofing their properties because not everybody could afford the costs, for example,

“I really do feel, if you... if you are living in a flood area, there should be grants… not grants [but] if you fill in [and submit the expenses incurred] by a way of forms… or you hand over the receipt and have that… all of it... paid for. Because if local government is not protecting you then they should be trying to help you to protect yourself. Not everybody has the income to buy all these things [flood proofing products].” [Female, Callander]

Some participants stated that when floods were expected to happen infrequently, say once in 10 years, it was not unjustified for them to seek help from the Government and the local council. In fact, they asserted that plenty of help including financial help should be available. Further, as many participants had identified mismanagement of floodwaters as among the main causes of floods, they were unwilling to share the financial burden, for example,

“Why should the residents need to buy these things [flood proofing products]

when you are paying your water rates, etc.? And that’s meant to manage the river. They should be putting better defences on. So why should you as a resident have to pay through the value of your property when you already