Perceptions of flood risk: A case study of the Red River flood of 1997

Risk perception is examined in the context of the Red River flood of 1997. The role that experience with prior flood events plays in risk perception i s highlighted as well as the impacts of experience on the mitigation action s selected by individuals. The Red River flood of 1997 demonstrated that in dividuals with different prior flood experience could be expected to behave differently during a flood event. This implies that flood warnings should be tailored to the characteristics of the target audience.