The 2013/14 Winter Floods and Policy Change: The dynamics of change in the aftermath of major crises
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Exeter
Department Name: Geography
Abstract
This project explores the importance of the early periods following major crises for determining longer-term responses to national policy issues. It does so in order to understand the possibilities at such times for embedding robust, long-term responses to relevant social problems. The research focuses on the major floods which hit the UK during the winter of 2013/14, taking the Somerset Levels and Moors as a case study for examining governance processes and their outcomes in the aftermath of crises. The prolonged nature of these recent floods within Somerset has brought high levels of political, media and wider public attention. There is evidence of conflicting positions and viewpoints on the causes of the floods and the most socially, environmentally and economically appropriate response measures across various stakeholders and flood affected publics. The research will examine this dynamic and evolving context of solution and problem framing in order to build understanding of the immediate aftermath of floods as a key period in which policy change happens and particular solutions emerge. The primary objective will be to show how this initial period of response impacts on the kinds of policy solutions that are put forward and subsequently delivered over the longer term. Our research will be guided by these specific research questions:
1) Do the periods following major national crises offer potential for initiating change in policy and response approaches to floods?
2) What framings are identifiable across the wide range of actors affected by and involved with the 2013/14 floods and how are they linked to specific solutions and outcomes?
3) Which framings dominate or become marginalised over time and with what implications for longer-term responses?
4) How are longer-term issues such as land use, agricultural policy, climate change adaptation and sustainability, incorporated and addressed?
The project will use innovative qualitative and quantitative methods to look in-depth at the perspectives and experiences of those that have been directly affected by flooding and those in positions of responsibility for responding and managing floods. Using repeat interviews and a locally representative survey instrument, as well as visual methodologies (i.e. photo-elicitation), the project will generate a rich data set that will be used to interrogate the important questions about governance in periods after crises that the research addresses. The lessons learned from this case study will inform the processes of policy-making as they unfold and contribute to the development of robust, long-term responses to floods that are attuned to the values, perspectives and world views of the different social actors affected.
1) Do the periods following major national crises offer potential for initiating change in policy and response approaches to floods?
2) What framings are identifiable across the wide range of actors affected by and involved with the 2013/14 floods and how are they linked to specific solutions and outcomes?
3) Which framings dominate or become marginalised over time and with what implications for longer-term responses?
4) How are longer-term issues such as land use, agricultural policy, climate change adaptation and sustainability, incorporated and addressed?
The project will use innovative qualitative and quantitative methods to look in-depth at the perspectives and experiences of those that have been directly affected by flooding and those in positions of responsibility for responding and managing floods. Using repeat interviews and a locally representative survey instrument, as well as visual methodologies (i.e. photo-elicitation), the project will generate a rich data set that will be used to interrogate the important questions about governance in periods after crises that the research addresses. The lessons learned from this case study will inform the processes of policy-making as they unfold and contribute to the development of robust, long-term responses to floods that are attuned to the values, perspectives and world views of the different social actors affected.
Planned Impact
The proposed programme of work will create a significant body of empirical data that will allow for a triangulated analysis and synthesis across the three separate WP outputs. We envisage the conclusions informing UK policy making in two specific ways: 1) By highlighting different framings and understandings of the issues that should be considered within the flood policy decision making processes; and 2) by informing the ways that processes of flood governance engage with longer-term issues. The project has direct and long-term strategic relevance and strong potential to impact policy development both through the research itself (as indicated in the case for support) and the specific activities we propose to enhance the economic and societal impact of the research.
1) During the proposal development phase we have already worked using our existing contacts and knowledge of the governance terrain to build links with potential beneficiaries and users (e.g. Environment Agency, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Somerset County Council). We have developed the basis for a project Sounding Board that will be used throughout the study to facilitate the co-production of knowledge with research users where appropriate. The Board will involve ongoing interactions at key intervals during the project's development to both incorporate the knowledge and insights of users in the processes of research design and provide a basis for disseminating early findings, providing a route for direct and immediate impacts. The potential for impact will further be enhanced through the creation of deliberative fora in Work Package 3 of the project that will provide a basis for engagement and discussion amongst other stakeholders and affected publics.
2) Valuable early intelligence is likely to be generated by this project regarding particularly sensitive issues in the ways floods are managed requiring in-depth engagement between decision makers and the lay public in the future. These outputs will be of use for stakeholders in government (e.g. DEFRA, EA), flood risk management industries (e.g. engineering firms such as ARUP), and NGOs (e.g. the National Flood Forum). All members of the team are active and engaged social scientists in the area of environmental risk that regularly provide expert advice through knowledge exchange meetings, presentations and briefings with potential beneficiaries and users. The insights generated from this project will be disseminated via these more informal routes drawing on the experience of team members. Team members will work to disseminate the research via the media, social media and their wider online presence in order to generate interest in and awareness of the ongoing work. This will be achieved through producing press releases pertaining to key events or outcomes, using our twitter accounts (our team's twitter followers number over one thousand and include influential journalists, policy audiences and academics), and writing for relevant blogs, websites and non-academic publications (e.g. Carbon Brief, the Conversation, National Flood Forum bulletin). We will also seek the support and advice of the Science Media Centre in order to hold a media briefing towards the end of the project reporting key outcomes.
3) The research is likely to generate interest from members of the flood affected and wider public. To reach these audiences a number of key public engagement activities will be undertaken building on existing plans and funding already in place or having been applied for. For example, we plan to have a presence at the AHRC Being Human festival and the ESRC Festival of Social Science through which we would disseminate findings and insights arising from this project. Additionally, we can enhance a planned ESRC-funded event 'Seeing the Climate' (grant ES/K001175/1) by utilising the photographs that would be generated as part of this research.
1) During the proposal development phase we have already worked using our existing contacts and knowledge of the governance terrain to build links with potential beneficiaries and users (e.g. Environment Agency, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Somerset County Council). We have developed the basis for a project Sounding Board that will be used throughout the study to facilitate the co-production of knowledge with research users where appropriate. The Board will involve ongoing interactions at key intervals during the project's development to both incorporate the knowledge and insights of users in the processes of research design and provide a basis for disseminating early findings, providing a route for direct and immediate impacts. The potential for impact will further be enhanced through the creation of deliberative fora in Work Package 3 of the project that will provide a basis for engagement and discussion amongst other stakeholders and affected publics.
2) Valuable early intelligence is likely to be generated by this project regarding particularly sensitive issues in the ways floods are managed requiring in-depth engagement between decision makers and the lay public in the future. These outputs will be of use for stakeholders in government (e.g. DEFRA, EA), flood risk management industries (e.g. engineering firms such as ARUP), and NGOs (e.g. the National Flood Forum). All members of the team are active and engaged social scientists in the area of environmental risk that regularly provide expert advice through knowledge exchange meetings, presentations and briefings with potential beneficiaries and users. The insights generated from this project will be disseminated via these more informal routes drawing on the experience of team members. Team members will work to disseminate the research via the media, social media and their wider online presence in order to generate interest in and awareness of the ongoing work. This will be achieved through producing press releases pertaining to key events or outcomes, using our twitter accounts (our team's twitter followers number over one thousand and include influential journalists, policy audiences and academics), and writing for relevant blogs, websites and non-academic publications (e.g. Carbon Brief, the Conversation, National Flood Forum bulletin). We will also seek the support and advice of the Science Media Centre in order to hold a media briefing towards the end of the project reporting key outcomes.
3) The research is likely to generate interest from members of the flood affected and wider public. To reach these audiences a number of key public engagement activities will be undertaken building on existing plans and funding already in place or having been applied for. For example, we plan to have a presence at the AHRC Being Human festival and the ESRC Festival of Social Science through which we would disseminate findings and insights arising from this project. Additionally, we can enhance a planned ESRC-funded event 'Seeing the Climate' (grant ES/K001175/1) by utilising the photographs that would be generated as part of this research.
Publications
Adger W
(2017)
Moral reasoning in adaptation to climate change
in Environmental Politics
Adger W
(2016)
Place, well-being, and fairness shape priorities for adaptation to climate change
in Global Environmental Change
Adger W
(2016)
Sharing the Pain: Perceptions of Fairness Affect Private and Public Response to Hazards
in Annals of the American Association of Geographers
Adger WN
(2021)
Social Ecological Dynamics of Catchment Resilience.
in Water
Barnett J
(2021)
Three ways social identity shapes climate change adaptation.
in Environmental research letters : ERL [Web site]
Brown K
(2019)
Moving climate change beyond the tragedy of the commons
in Global Environmental Change
Brown K
(2019)
Empathy, place and identity interactions for sustainability
in Global Environmental Change
Butler C
(2018)
Narratives of recovery after floods: Mental health, institutions, and intervention.
in Social science & medicine (1982)
Landeg O
(2019)
Coastal flooding and frontline health care services: challenges for flood risk resilience in the English health care system.
in Journal of health services research & policy
| Title | Submerged: Portraits from the Levels |
| Description | Submerged: Portraits form the Levels is a photography exhibition created by David Mansell-Moulin in collaboration with the project team, which reflects on the research analysis. The following text describes the thoughts behind the creation of this piece. Floods are both a private and public affair. They are debated vociferously within media and other public fora, and public institutions have responsibilities for their management. But the experience of flooding is also deeply private, bringing the destruction of our most personal artefacts, our photographs and memories, our homes, our security. These are times of heightened stress which tends to manifest in frustrated and highly charged contestation and confrontations between those affected and those in positions of authority. Responding to research undertaken in Somerset following the winter storms of 2013-14, this exhibition seeks to engage with the human experience of flooding. Presented in a series of large-format colour photographic portraits, it portrays those directly affected by the floods, along-side those involved with flood management and the response. The images are accompanied by quotes from the participants reflecting experiences from different perspectives. The exhibition seeks to prompt reflection on what can be learnt from these events. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | The exhibition was held during the RGS (with IBG) conference, 2015. Specifically, the exhibition was part of an evening panel event that the research team organised as part of the conference with over 120 people in attendance, including academics, members of the public, research participants, and representatives from organisations including the MET office, Public Health England, Somerset County Council, the Environment Agency, Defra, the Committee on Climate Change, CIWEM, Arup, Devon Maritime Forum, RSPB, Somerset IDB. Delegates and panelists commented that the exhibition had contextualised the experience of flooding from both the stakeholders and public perspective, allowing them to see similarities and differences between the two. |
| Title | THEY - a filmic art piece |
| Description | THEY is a film piece created by artist Emma Critchley in collaboration with the project team in response to the research analysis. The text below summarises the intention behind the film. The Somerset levels floods of 2013/14 left many people living semi-aquatic lives for months on end. Once familiar family homes were transformed and the levels became the subject of a story which drew attention from across the UK and around the world. Despite the overwhelming buzz of media attention, it was an experience that left many feeling isolated; caught in an otherworldly displaced space, where time stood still. The floods sparked great controversy about how and why they occurred and who was to blame for their scale and duration. Why 'they' let it happen and the way 'they' handled the situation became the subject of contentious debate and confrontation. THEY responds to stories collated from interviews of those affected; it reflects on the accounts people gave which brought to view a sense of forced adaptation to an otherworldly existence; on view yet disconnected from the outside world. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | The film was screened during an evening panel event that the research team organised as part of the Royal Geographical Society annual conference with over 120 people in attendance, including academics, members of the public, research participants, and representatives from organisations including the MET office, Public Health England, Somerset County Council, the Environment Agency, Defra, the Committee on Climate Change, CIWEM, Arup, Devon Maritime Forum, RSPB, Somerset IDB. Delegates and panelists commented that the film had evoked a sense of what the experience of flooding in your home must be like and how deeply it impacts people's lives, as well as how difficult the process of recovery must be for those affected. We are planning a further screening of the film during the Conference of Parties 2015 as part of ArtCOP: http://www.artcop21.com/ |
| URL | http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/winterfloods/event/ |
| Description | This grant was funded through the urgency mechanism, which supported data collection and initial analysis only. We were able to provide continuity for the full data analysis and publications by securing the RA post for an additional 16 months (see Collaborations and Partnerships for details). The data analysis has now been completed and a key findings report was published in June 2016. A summary of the key findings are given below and a url linking to the full report is provided. The research sought to understand the evolution of responses to floods in the aftermath of a major event and the implications for longer-term flood management. The project examined perceptions and experiences of members of the public affected by flooding and those with professional responsibility for flood risk management, policy, and practice ('stakeholders'). Current policy debates in the UK highlight distinctive challenges in responding to floods, given expectations for increases in their severity and frequency with climate change. Over five million homes and business are subject to flood risk in the UK (Environment Agency, 2014) and recent major floods in 2013/14 and 2015/16 have resulted in extensive damage to private property and public infrastructure with many millions of pounds of economic losses (e.g. Chatterton et al. 2016). Although there has been much previous research on how members of the public are affected by floods and some work to understand perceptions relating to particular dimensions of the issue (such as the link between flooding experience and climate change), we know far less about the range of perspectives on flooding across public and stakeholder groups or how these interact to affect responses and outcomes in the aftermath of major events. Greater understanding of public perceptions and experiences of floods, and how these evolve, highlight challenges, and also present opportunities, for the delivery of UK flood policy and management strategies. The research involved three phases of intensive longitudinal empirical research during the year following the UK's 2013/14 flood events (June 2014-June 2015): 1) In-depth qualitative repeat interviews over a one year period with flood affected members of the public (interview n=60) in Somerset (South West England), and with key stakeholders at national and regional levels (interview n= 52); 2) A locally representative survey of 1000 members of the public across two flooded UK regions (Somerset n=500 and Boston, Lincolnshire n=500, July 2015). 3) Two deliberative workshops, one with flood affected publics and another with key stakeholders (June 2015). This report offers an overview of the key findings from these datasets relating to public and stakeholder experiences and perceptions of flooding after a major flood event. The research has illuminated a wide range of novel insights on public and stakeholder perceptions regarding: flood policy and public expenditure; perceptions of causes and solutions to flood risk; the underlying factors that influence people's engagement with flood risk management; alternative mechanisms for reducing the impacts of floods; processes of recovery and community resilience; health and well-being impacts associated with flooding; and the political dimensions of decision-making about responses. KEY FINDINGS The research reveals important differences in how members of the public and stakeholders understand causes and solutions for flood risk and interpret the appropriateness of responses and responsibilities. This offers new insights into the reasons for contestation following flood events and provides evidence relevant to the development of capacities for future management of flood risk. Specifically, the analysis highlights the importance of more strategic processes for decision-making post-floods in order to reduce contestation and capitalise on the opportunities that flood events present both for public engagement, and for embedding flood resilience and resistance when homes and communities are being rebuilt. The data highlights important differences across places, people, and households in terms of their experiences of flooding that have relevance for the appropriateness of advice, support, and perceptions of responses. Finally, the analysis provides novel understanding of the factors that underpin and influence community resilience in and through flood events and signals the importance of policy mechanisms that support social resilience, for future flood management. Perceptions of Flood Causes and Solutions Members of the public perceive the causes of floods differently to those in institutions and stakeholder organisations. This has important implications for perceptions of the solutions to floods and offers insights relevant to understanding why publics react in the ways that they do following flood events. The research highlights key differences in the ways in which members of the public and stakeholders frame the causes of flood events, which have direct implications for the perceptions of responses. Although both members of the public and stakeholders agreed that high levels of rainfall contributed to the 2013/14 winter floods, less focus was placed on weather or climate in the public responses. Instead, the public cohort more readily attributed the floods to social actions of institutions and individuals, including river and land maintenance, inappropriate development, specific decisions about water management during the flood event, and longer term prioritisation of other issues by authorities. Variations in perceptions of the causes of flooding underpinned differing views on the solutions. This was particularly noticeable in relation to emotionally charged debates about land and river management decisions. There was, however, pragmatism within the public cohort related to the availability of funding for flood risk management, and what could be realistically achieved under current economic conditions. The contrasts between public and stakeholder perspectives can be seen as central to problems of blame cultures and a diminished quality of public debate about responses to floods. Perceptions of historic flood management decisions, budgetary constraints, and the belief that climate change is utilised an excuse for inaction contribute toward mistrust in authorities and further constrain the nature of the debate. With increasing flood risk and occurrences of flooding these issues are likely to intensify in future if efforts are not made to support the development of lower cost solutions for high-risk communities that do not qualify under current economic assessments for flood defence funding. There is a need for greater dialogue about viable lower cost alternatives for flood management in order to improve the terms of public debate and reduce the tendencies for a blame culture. Politics, Expectations and Institutional Responses Differences in expectations with regards to response and recovery processes were evident across public and stakeholder cohorts. The expectations members of the public have pertain to basic underlying rights or ideals about the role that government should play in ensuring the socio-environmental conditions needed to live healthy lives: The data reveal a mismatch in the expectations of members of the public and the statutory requirements of government bodies with responsibilities for flood risk management. This relates to a lack of clarity about institutional responsibilities and frustrations with the responses to flood events amongst those affected. The result is reduced trust in authorities that can detrimentally impact the relief efforts and in the longer-term has consequences for how effectively communities and agencies can work together to combat future flood risk. Clear written communications that establish what support different key agencies provide for the public in case of a flood event may be beneficial in resolving some of these issues. However, there is a need for tangible responses to floods and communication about the efforts that people affected and authorities will take to diminish the impacts of future events. The ability of different agencies, people and organisations to work together across scales to create solutions was an important concern that arose out of issues public participants and stakeholders saw with current responses and longer-term flood risk management. Such issues pertained to the diminished role of local communities and local knowledge in managing flood risk within affected areas; the funding arrangements for flood management; and the environmental protection functions of the main agency with responsibilities for flood risk. The influence of politics in decision-making about flooding was identified as an issue by both stakeholders and members of the public. The poor quality of political debate and the use of flood events to advance or entrench existing political interests and concerns (e.g. relating to electoral politics and differences between party positions) were identified as strongly influencing responses and decision-making. The research shows that communities can and do initiate responses following floods, such as enabling travel, particularly to and from the workplace, in clean-up processes, and through supporting health needs. These could be better supported by governing institutions and agencies through greater sensitivity to on-going community-led responses and attentiveness to the importance of community cohesion, for example, in evacuation protocols. Place and Situated Responses Perceptions of flood risk and efforts to respond to events are influenced by range of factors that relate to the specifics of different places. These include community relationships, prior flood experience, and place attachment. The analysis shows how the uniqueness of particular areas and the forms of place attachment that develop are important for understanding public responses to flood risk. This pertains as much to the social and political landscape, current and historic, as the material environment. The attachments that people have to the material environment, as well as the aesthetic and cultural dimensions of the landscape, play a significant role in how people react to flood events throughout the recovery and response process, including attitudes towards building resilience for future flood events. Attachments to place can result in a desire to maintain particular forms of water and landscape and retain traditional practices for flood management. This can conflict with the need to adapt to future flood risk, which is likely to involve significant changes both materially and socially. In terms of political dimensions, public views on responses to floods are linked to perceptions about differences in the ways other areas are treated by authorities and government and this also has implications for public reactions following floods. Re-forging connections with home and place more widely is an important part of recovery processes after flood events with implications for well-being. The findings highlight the importance of being sensitive to the specificities of place in the responses to flooding. However, they also draw attention to how the differential forms of social and economic capital that communities and local authorities or agencies have, can affect their ability to attract national resources potentially leading to uneven distributions that are not necessarily reflective of need. Attention to the particular characteristics of areas, homes and people thus needs to be part of broader more strategic processes for decision-making and efforts to ensure fair and appropriate distributions of resources. This is suggestive of a need for a flexible approach to assessing options for flood risk management and engaging with communities across different areas. Such an approach would take account of the various place-specific issues that influence perceptions of flood risk and management options, in order to develop responses that do not conflict with existing community relationships, values, and attitudes toward the local area. Flood Experience, Community Resilience, and Well-being Social networks and community cohesion are critical in supporting resilience to flood events. The findings suggest that these aspects are currently underemphasised in emergency response and policy strategies when compared to material and infrastructural components of flood resilience. The research findings provide evidence for the importance of community cohesion and social networks in mitigating negative impacts to well-being during and after flood events. Several dimensions of social resilience are revealed as significant for enhancing the abilities of people to cope and for improving well-being. These include formal and informal modes of support, for example businesses offering services and donating to relief efforts, keep in touch networks, and dinner or other forms of social meetings with friends and others that have been affected. The presence of support workers and volunteers also formed an important part of the social infrastructures relevant to community resilience, for example by signposting people towards more formal types of institutional support or by providing direct personal support at times of high anxiety and stress. People having a sense of agency, including abilities to effect change and engagement with decision-making processes, is also revealed as a significant factor in improving people's well-being in post-flood contexts. Governing institutions can support multiple aspects of community resilience but can also inadvertently have detrimental impacts on community cohesion and co-operation. The analysis highlights how stress and anxiety owing to floods has wide-ranging social and economic impacts on work, future lives and livelihoods, and social participation that are not easily measureable so could be overlooked. For example, the research shows that many effects are more subtle, frequently not reported, and not characterised by post-traumatic stress disorder, so are not likely to be accounted for within current assessments of flood impacts. There is a need to find means for taking better account of these socio-economic impacts within policy and institutions. The project offers three overarching key recommendations: 1. Improving the quality of the public debate in post-flood contexts: Flood events present opportunities for engagement between members of the public that have been affected by flooding and decision-makers within institutions. These are moments in which new groups and networks are formed and people seek to connect with governmental organisations. Equally, they represent times when there are high levels of institutional communication and action, though public meetings and other types of formal and informal engagement. At present, the opportunities that this might afford for more collaborative processes of response are diminished by the poor quality of political debate and public rows that surround flood events, and a lack of clarity about what people can expect in the aftermath of events from authorities or what they can do themselves. There is a need to improve the quality of the political debate in the aftermath of floods and work to ensure that expectations are negotiated between and across communities affected and institutions with responsibilities. 2. Supporting social resilience and recognising community responses: Floods have significant negative impacts on well-being and conventional approaches to assessment and measurement pertaining to policy responses limit abilities to take account of these and to effectively respond. Given this, social and community resilience may be underestimated in terms of its role in enabling people to cope and recover from floods, and in mitigating negative implications for well-being. Greater support should be given to mechanisms and policies that aim to enhance social and community forms of resilience. Specific recommendations arising from the research include the importance of increasing the use of professionalised community coordinator roles (such as village agents in rural contexts) that can form a link and source of two-way exchange between agencies, responders, governing bodies, and communities. Individuals working in community support roles provide an important mechanism during emergency and post-flood contexts but also have roles in generating community resilience outside of these times. There is a role for institutions in ensuring social infrastructures are in place that can effectively support the emergence and maintenance of social resilience. 3. Taking a strategic approach to financing and embedding resilience and resistance in response and recovery: Emergency funds and their allocation at times of intense pressure and stress following floods can contribute toward short-term decision-making and a lack of strategic direction. Processes for allocating funding at these times should be better formalised so that communities, local authorities, and agencies can know with greater clarity what opportunities are available for additional funding allocations following major events. This is to recognise that severe floods are likely to happen more frequently and enable a greater degree of strategic oversight in the decision-making and funding allocations that are made. Consideration should be given as to how government initiatives (such as the flood mitigation fund) could work in concert with insurance industry protocols, for example loss adjusters assessing for property level resilience and resistance measures as part of the insurance claims processes. There is a need to embed more strategic processes for decision-making about funding and resilient rebuilding in post-flood contexts to facilitate responses that will reduce the impacts of flood events in future. |
| Exploitation Route | In our proposal we envisaged the conclusions informing policy making in two ways: 1) By highlighting different framings of the issues that should be considered within flood policy decision-making processes; 2) by informing the ways that processes of flood governance engage with longer-term issues. We have developed pathways to achieving these aims, forming good relationships with key organisations including, Somerset County Council, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency, the Committee on Climate Change, RSPB, Met Office and Public Health England. As we've developed our analysis and published our findings, we have continued to build on these relationships to create a basis for the work being taken forward and used by these groups and others. This has included ongoing meetings and attendance at events, as well as more informal communications. Additionally we held a launch event for our report with attendance from all of the major stakeholder parties with which we are engaging. We are continuing to collaborate with the Royal Geographical Society to develop resources for UK schools based on the research so can anticipate the findings being taken forward by informing development of the Geography curriculum. The findings have been put to use in feeding into the UK's Climate Change Risk Assessment and into PHE recommendations regarding responses to floods. The findings have fed into the Royal Geographical Society's recommendations and response to the Letwin review, as well as being utilised as basis for evidence submissions to this and other reviews carried out since the 2013/14 floods. In terms of academic research, we have cultivated considerable interest in the results and findings including from other ESRC funded projects, such as the Children, Young People and Disasters project, and major research institutions, such as the Flood Hazard Research Centre and the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management network. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| URL | http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/media/universityofexeter/schoolofgeography/winterfloods/documents/Butler_et_al_2016_Socia_Political_DynamicsFloods.pdf |
| Description | The findings have been used by a range of different regional and national bodies beyond academia. Somerset County Council and other regional agencies including Somerset Rivers Authority have used the research in their assessments of the impacts of the 2013/14 floods on people, and to enhance institutional knowledge about the experience of response processes. The knowledge has been used to inform reports relating to lessons from the floods and enhance future responses both within the region and other flood affected areas. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have used the research in their assessment of the social and economic impacts of the 2013/14 floods. The research is being used in the new Climate Change Risk Assessment evidence review from the Committee on Climate Change. Public Health England are using the findings to inform their research priorities and recommendations for public health responses to floods. They have also collaborated on new research with the Winter Floods team. We have developed Educational Resources for use in UK Schools with the Royal Geographical Society. We have contributed to ongoing government reviews, including the Letwin Review on National Flood Resilience and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's Future Flood Prevention Inquiry. We have submitted evidence separately and as part of the response from the Royal Geographical Society. The research has also been used as a basis for the creation of two visual art pieces displayed at a public event in September 2015. The research has formed the basis of an invitation to contribute to an Environment Agency of catchment resilience. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Education,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Citation in Defra/EA/WG report Delivering Benefits through Evidence: The costs and impacts of the winter 2013 to 2014 floods |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-costs-and-impacts-of-the-winter-2013-to-2014-floods |
| Description | Environment Agency Catchment Resilience Report |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Submissions to Evidence Reviews - the Letwin Review and the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee on Future Flood Prevention |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Evaluating Health Impacts of Climate Adaptation Strategies |
| Amount | £499,529 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 216014/Z/19/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2019 |
| End | 10/2022 |
| Description | University of Exeter ESRC IAA Impact Cultivation Award |
| Amount | £3,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Environmental Change and Health |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We have combined resources from two closely related projects (ESRC and HPRU) to employ the project research associate over a longer period of time. Butler gives time in-kind from her University of Exeter funded research fellowship to the HPRU project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Resourcing for the project research associate and research activities. |
| Impact | The project is still in the early stages - currently data collection has been undertaken with input from the HPRU leads and PHE on design and development. Outputs are planned for 2015 including publications, presentations and engagement with different stakeholders facilitated by each distinct project. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Conference Presentation - Changing attitudes towards rivers: Implications of climate change risk on river conservation, BCEP 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation stimulated discussion and questions afterwards about the topic and options for future collaboration. Colleagues have expressed an interest in hearing more about the work in order to discuss how we could collaborate together in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Conference Presentation - Flooding and Farming: Exploring institutional responses across different challenges, RGS 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards We received much interest from stakeholders and practitioners, with invitations to follow up on the discussions after the conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Conference Presentation - Flooding on the Somerset Levels: an opportunity for greater public participation in governance?, ECCA 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This talk was part of a session organised by colleagues about flooding and governance. The other presentations and the following discussion highlighted the other work being done in this field and also facilitated networking opportunities with both academics and practitioners, enabling the research to be disseminated to a wider audience. The questions and subsequent discussions generated novel ways of considering the data analysis, at the time we were at a very early stage of analysis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Conference Presentation: Adapting to weather-related risks: public, private and well-being dimensions, Distinguished Visiting Scientist Lecture, CSIRO, Townsville, Australia, 2015. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Talk sparked discussion and questions - members of the public and other stakeholders present as well as academics Requests for further information were made. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Conference Presentation: Exploring the dynamics of change in the aftermath of crisis: The case of the 2013/14 winter floods, RGS 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk was part of a session organised by the project team with stakeholders from outside of academic invited to take part. Representatives from organisations including Somerset County Council, Defra, Environment Agency, RSPB, Somerset IDB, Arup, CIWEM and Devon Maritime Forum were present. The talk sparked questions and discussion. After the talk requests were made for the presentation slides and further information about the project findings from stakeholders and academics present. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://conference.rgs.org/AC2015/83 |
| Description | Conference Presentation: Floods in a changing climate: Understanding the role of crisis in policy change, ESA 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards, including interest from international colleagues in comparative work (Italy and Finland). Audience members reported changes in their views and ways of thinking of the issues within their national contexts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Flood and Coast Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A talk about community resilience within the 2016 Flood and Coast conference which is focussed on better understanding the risk from flooding. It is an opportunity to directly engage with practitioners and policymakers with a topic that always considered in policy circles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Flooding 2015 Conference - GovToday event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The event provided an opportunity for networking and for highlighting the project to a range of practitioners working in the area as well as offering insight into different national contexts for flood risk management. After the event new contacts were established through email correspondence creating interest in the resaerch and additional routes for dissemination of outputs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Health Protection Research Unit Workshop, London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop to disseminate findings amongst the HPRU group - stimulated discussion about the results in the wider policy context, with opportunities for collaboration discussed |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited Blog piece for the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The blog has sparked debate and interest in the ideas presented with questions and comments being received through a Linked-in discussion and emails from people that have read the blog. The FCERM-net team have reported high levels of interest in the ideas presented in the blog, led to increases in request for information and formed the basis for planned future activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.fcerm.net/blogs |
| Description | Invited Presentation Plymouth Arts Centre 'Arts and Climate Change Symposium' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards and has generated ongoing collaborations with artists. In particular, we are developing a film with an artist Emma Critchley who was also presenting at the event linking with an Arts Council funded project on the responses to flooding in South West. Several other less formalised collaborations have been developed as a result of this talk. After the talk, audience members reported changes in their views connected to their understanding of the 2013/14 floods and the responses as a result of the talk. I noted increases in requests for information about the project and plans were made for future activities collaborating with artists for public engagement. Two subsequent public facing events are planned as a consequence. https://www.flickr.com/photos/fotonow_projects/sets/72157650562019908/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://vasw.org.uk/events/arts-and-climate-change-symposium.php |
| Description | Invited Webinar for the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked questions and discussion amongst policy makers, pracitioners and academics involved and formed the basis for a briefing written by an Environment Agency pracititioner/policy actor that was widely distributed with reported high levels of interest amongst government departments including Defra. The webinar has been tweeted widely and re-watched through the online version further building up the initial audience. A policy briefing was created summarising the main points made in the webinar and widely ciriculated amongst policy makers with audience members reporting a change in views and high levels of interest. I was invited to present the work at a special session of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Management Research Network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.fcerm.net/webinar-PeoplePolitics |
| Description | Invited expert contributor - Workshop Climate Outreach and Information Network, Oxford, June 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The workshop brought together academics working on research addressing flood management issues with practitioners, policy makers and other stakeholder groups to exchange insights and knowledge. The day was structured around group discussions and exchanges or information on key issues. A report has been produced summarizing the outcomes of the days workshop to be published by the Climate Outreach and Information Network with the endorsement of those present. The event facilitated stronger connections with policy stakeholders and other academics working in the area of flooding. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Invited lecture at Achieving Climate Justice: the Agenda for Action: Climate justice: here and there. Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice, London, 2014. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Sparked discussion and further engagement with the project from non-academic stakeholders Information about the project was requested. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Invited presentation at the World Water Congress XV special session on flood management |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked signficant discussion and questions afterward extending well past the session end. There was particular interest from Scottish Executive officials and practitioners. The talk generated interest from a section of the policy/pracititioner community that had not previously been engaged with the research leading to new connections and plans for future activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://worldwatercongress.com/ |
| Description | Invited speaker to Devon and Cornwall Police Service - National Flood and Local Resilience Forum Lead |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This talk will inform the Assistant Chief Constable, who is the National Policing Flood and Local Resilience Forum Lead. The discussion focussed on the community resilience findings from the project. The discussion focussed on the role of volunteers during event such as flooding and how to deal with them, which we were able to provide insight from our research findings. It is expected that his will use this information to better prepare for future flood events, and had requested further meetings to discuss how to best use our findings, particularly with respect to individual and community resilience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited speaker to Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | After the talk, I participated in several meetings about the research. The discussions sparked novel ideas about how to take the research forward. The talk and meetings gave an opportunity to network with other academics in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Key note presentation at Sydney University Public Lecture Series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked significant discussion and audience questions afterwards. The talk generated international interest in the research and influenced public views on issues of flooding and climate change adaptation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Many Faces of Flooding: Panel Debate |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was panel event funded as part of an ESRC IAA impact cultivation award from the University of Exeter (see reporting under awards for full details). The panel sparked engagement, questions and discussion from multiple different organisations (e.g. Public Health England, RSPB, Somerset IDB), and helped cultivate and consolidate relationships with, in particular, Somerset County Council, Defra, Environment Agency, Committee on Climate Change, Arup, CIWEM and Devon Maritime Forum). The panel event was open to the public and so encouraged dialogue between members of the public, organisation with responsibility for flood risk management and academics engaged in research into flooding. This was enhanced by the addition of a drinks reception after the debate (sponsored by the journal Geo) that made space for attendees to continue discussion further. Attendees reported the event to be informative and worthwhile attending. The analysts were also pleased to have been invited and spoke about the opportunity it had given the maintain current and create new relationships to enhance their work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Presentation 'Communicating risk and uncertainty' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A presentation was given drawing on the research, prompting debate, discussion, and questions from the audience on issues of communication about risk and uncertainty. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Public Engagement Workshop, Langport, 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | The workshops sparked discussion and reflection on issues raised in the research and added new information important to the research outcomes. Participants in the workshop reported changes in their views and opinions following the workshop. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Public Health England and Health Protection Research Unit Joint Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked discussion and questions The talk generated further interest in the research outcomes from policy makers in attendance (e.g. Defra) and academic peers working in this area. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Public/practice workshops 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | 15 non-academic participants including flood affected people, local government, planning professionals, and farming community representatives attended a one day workshop examining processes of planning the flood management for the Somerset region. The activity has enhanced and further consolidated existing stakeholder relationship as well as forging new connections. The insights gleaned from the process have informed a recent review on the Social Dimensions of Catchment Resilience for the Environment Agency. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Roundtable on Strategic narratives for climate change |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Approximately 30 people attended a roundtable of experts, policy professionals, and practitioners chaired by Lord Deben addressing questions about narratives relating to climate change. The roundtable produced debate and discussion with key inputs from the project and sparked plans for future related activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Royal Geographic Society Britain is Changing podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A short online podcast highlighting the issue of flooding and environmental change as a key way in which Britain is Changing. This was provided for a competition run by the RGS and targeted at school pupils from ages 9-18. The podcast clip has contributed to awareness of flooding issues for the UK amongst this group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Schools/YGOTY2016.htm |
| Description | Royal Geographical Society Roundtable on Flooding |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A roundtable event was organised by the RGS bringing together experts, policy professionals, and practitioners in flooding to create evidence and advice for feeding into key evidence reviews (e.g. Letwin and the EA 25 year plan). A report was created consolidating inputs of all roundtable members and fed into the policy and governmental debates about flooding through the RGS. This has led to subsequent meetings and engagement to take forward key recommendations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Somerset County Council Health and Housing Flood Recovery Group Closure meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked requests for input to documentation and recommendations for lessons learned from 2013/14 floods. Reports to which we intend to contribute will be used to influence future responses in regional contexts and fed back to national policy makers and parliamentarians. After the talk meeting participants commented on how the research has been useful for them in their response processes and will inform their future response and recovery activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Somerset Rivers Authority Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Participated in a meeting of Somerset Rivers Authority to discuss the project findings report with members of the authority and the implications for their practice. Attendees reported changes in their views and impacts on their working practices, describing the project report as a 'check list' for their practice on flooding. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Somerset Water Management Partnership presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Approximately 30 people attended a meeting of Somerset Rivers Management Partnership where Butler presented key findings from the project. The talk sparked further interest in the project and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, Bristol, 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The workshop generated engagement with the research analytic process, securing increased levels of interest from policy makers and helping to refine the targeting of outputs enhancing the potential for influencing decision-making. After the workshops we have recieved emails from several participants expressing their thanks and stating the success of the workshop as well as the impact it had on them. We have made plans for future meetings and presentations of the research to workshop participants and their teams. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Westminster Energy, Environment, Transport Forum - 'Flood management in England: priorities, investment and adaptation' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Discussion about the project with other attendees Secured stakeholder interviews for the research and generated interest in the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/forums/event.php?eid=875 |