Analyzing Twitter communication about heavy precipitation events to improve future risk communication and disaster reduction in Germany

ABSTRACT

In many parts of Europe, heavy precipitation events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity. Since the current state of pluvial flood protection is low, there is a need to increase public risk perception and to encourage mitigation behavior. Doing this is the goal of risk communication, which is increasingly taking place via social media. In order to assess the importance/potential of social media for risk communication in relation to heavy precipitation events, this study aims to analyze the current status quo by time series-, network- and content analysis. The current risk communication fluctuates over time; therefore, a more continuous communication is required. Warnings, originating from established stakeholders were the most common type of messages; therefore, these stakeholders are especially important for risk communication. As there is a lack of information about protective measures and behavioral recommendations on social media, a more powerful dissemination of this information is needed.

KEYWORDS:

• Social media analysis
• heavy precipitation
• risk communication
• disaster reduction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was performed within the Forschungskolleg FUTURE WATER and funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia. FUTURE WATER is coordinated by the ‘Zentrum für Wasser- und Umweltforschung’ (ZWU) at the University of Duisburg-Essen.