This project explores the lived experiences, perceptions and responses of community members to flood warnings and evacuation warnings. Focusing on understanding how different groups receive, interpret and act upon flood warning information, the project will pay particular attention to factors influencing compliance, trust in authorities and barriers to evacuation.
The research will be conducted in areas impacted by the May 2025 New South Wales mid-North Coast floods, including the Manning, Macleay, Hastings and Nambucca catchments. The study will cover urban and rural settings and age, gender and cultural background diversity.
To achieve this, a research team led by A/Prof Fiona Miller from Macquarie University will perform surveys and semi-structured interviews with people who received flood warnings or experienced evacuation responses during the May 2025 floods.
These researchers are currently inviting residents of the mid-North Coast region of New South Wales who have had these experiences (and are 18 or older) to complete an online survey, with more information available here.
If you meet these requirements and would prefer to share your experiences in an interview, email floodsresearch@mq.edu.au or sign up here.
In a separate study, Dr Julian Marx from the University of Melbourne will research the behaviours and experiences of impacted residents regarding warnings and evacuation through social media analysis of Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Related projects
| Project |
|---|
| Social media in community experiences of Tropical Cyclone Alfred |
| Community experiences of the 2022 Australian floods |