Trust and the communication of flood risks: comparing the roles of local governments, volunteers in emergency services, and neighbours

Risk information needs to be communicated by trusted groups, in order to promote attitude and behavior change. We compare different levels of trust in local governments, volunteers in emergency and relief services, and neighbors, and how trust in these groups shapes citizens’ perceptions and actions relating to flood risks. Structural equation modeling is applied to a sample of 2,007 flood-prone households in Austria. A series of cognitive and behavioral responses to flood risks is regressed on trust shown to the three groups. Our findings show that citizens show great trust and attribute high competence to volunteers, which increases risk perception and reduces denial and wishful thinking. Trust in local government downplays risks, makes citizens rely on external help, and promotes fatalism and wishful thinking. Trust in neighbors increases reliance on social support and reinforces wishful thinking. These trust effects reflect the roles and risk narratives of the respective groups. To stimulate specific actions of citizens in flood risk management, the group who addresses the desired actions within its narrative should act as risk communicator. Risk communication could be introduced as a complementary activity in voluntary emergency and relief services, wherein older, retired volunteers seem particularly qualified as risk communicators.