Flood Resilience of Private Properties

Flood Resilience of Private Properties examines the division and balance of responsibilities between the public and the private when discussing flood resilience of private properties. It highlights the need for homeowners to take steps to make homes more flood-resilient, but incentives may be insufficient and fragmented or unclear property rights and responsibilities entrench inertia.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 158 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Flood Resilience of Private Properties delves into the intricate dynamics between the public and private sectors when addressing the issue of flood resilience for private properties. Flooding, a costly and detrimental climate-related disaster, poses a significant threat to urban living. The ongoing expansion of development in flood-prone areas further exacerbates these risks. Maintaining uniform standards for protecting all properties becomes increasingly challenging. Research has primarily focused on enhancing planning and adapting publicly-owned infrastructure, including streets, evacuation routes, and retention ponds. However, damages often occur on private land, highlighting the need for private owners to take action. Measures such as installing mobile barriers, backwater valves, or avoiding vulnerable uses in basements can significantly increase the flood resilience of homes. Nevertheless, private owners may be unaware of the flooding risks or may lack the necessary resources and expertise to implement such measures. Incentives may need to be more substantial, while fragmented or unclear property rights and responsibilities can hinder proactive action. Encouraging homeowners to take steps is a formidable challenge. Political and societal systems exert significant influence on the actions citizens are willing to take and the expectations they have of their governments. The distribution of responsibility for implementing flood resilience measures varies across countries, with different sectors assuming varying degrees of responsibility.

This book holds immense appeal to scholars specializing in water law, property rights, flood risk management, and climate adaptation. Originally published as a special issue of Water International, this book offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between public and private entities in the realm of flood resilience.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367617707