Analyzing Flood Risk Behaviors and Preparation in the Midwest Using the Health Belief Model

Objective: Flooding events are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, posing a public health threat to communities in flood zones. Therefore, it is essential to gain insight from residents’ knowledge and beliefs about flooding to inform and develop future risk communication efforts. In this study, we investigated the impacts of perceived risk, beliefs, and attitudes of flooding on flood preparatory behaviors among persons in Iowa and Nebraska. Methods: We distributed a survey to Iowan (N = 127) and Nebraskan (N = 144) households near the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, respectively. The survey, framed using the Health Belief Model (HBM), assessed flooding attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. We used a series of generalized linear models to predict flood preparatory behaviors. Results: We found that 3 out of 5 components of the HBM were significantly associated with measures of flood preparation – perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, and cues to action. Perceived benefits was statistically significant for one measure and perceived severity was non-significant. Conclusion: Our survey provides important insights on how flood risk perception and attitudes influence flood preparation. Understanding these factors is essential for guiding future emergency preparedness efforts.