Surveys Required to Design Nonstructural Measures

Structural measures reduce flood damage by controlling water whereas nonstructural measures must change the land use habits of, and thus in a sense, control people. Specific nonstructural measures must be designed to communicate hazard information and persuade people to react to it in accordance with public policy. Just as structural design requires information on local topography and hydrology, nonstructural programs (land use control, flood proofing, warning systems, etc.) require surveys to gather project-specific information to tailor communication and persuasion techniques to the people on a particular flood plain. These individuals must be identified so that information can be obtained to classify them according to their probable comprehension of information and willingness to yield to persuasion. Research is underway to develop workable survey techniques. Surveys of Atlanta flood plain residents provide initial indications of the range and kinds of variation a community can expect in response to nonstructural flood control measures.