Public dialogues on flood risk communication

This is the final report of the Flood Risk Communications Public Dialogue project, funded by the Environment Agency and Sciencewise. It summarises outputs from the project’s first series of public dialogue workshops (‘Stage One’ – two workshops each in Leicester, Newtown, Oxford, Skegness and York), and a final workshop combining a selection of participants from all five locations (‘Stage Two’). The purpose of the dialogue was to involve members of the public in:

• exploring the meaning of messages about flood risk, including the link between understanding the risk and taking action
• developing innovative methods and techniques to help individuals and communities understand their risk of flooding

The results will inform the way in which the Environment Agency presents its maps of flood risk and the way it coordinates with other agencies over these kinds of communications. The project is also intended as a basis for all agencies working with communities at risk of flooding to be more consistent and joined up in their communications and action, and to develop a more outcomes-focused approach.