Making flood risk real and increasing awareness of the need to act is a key challenge for emergency services and government agencies working in disaster risk.
For parts of NSW, the impact of flooding can be devastating. Alarmingly, research undertaken after recent floods in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley showed that 70% of people didn’t listen to evacuation warnings during floods in 2021-22. Together with NSW SES and the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Bastion developed the Future Flood project to raise awareness of the very real risk in flood prone areas, by simulating flood events at a personal level. Four residents who had not previously evacuated were identified and their homes, right down to their vehicles, possessions and even children’s toys, were simulated to show accurate flood heights. This presented a powerful reminder to follow emergency warnings because failing to act could put lives at risk.
“Making flood risk relatable can be challenging – we often refer to probability and complex details relating to when and where floods will hit – this campaign taps into the way people’s decisions are influenced and highlights how past floods are not a reliable indicator of what a future flood may look like,” a NSW Reconstruction Authority spokesperson said.
“With the climate becoming increasingly unpredictable in Australia, following the advice of emergency authorities is more important than ever. It was a privilege to work alongside NSW SES, the Reconstruction Authority and simulation experts to create this data driven campaign with a powerful message we believe will resonate and change behaviour.” Said Bastion Group Chief Creative Officer, Simon Langley.
Assess your risk and get prepared at www.ses.nsw.gov.au/futureflood
