Why understanding behaviour matters for flood risk management?

In her Editorial of June 2020, Burrell Montz touched upon many of the parallels between managing the global pandemic and flood risk management. Over the recent months, I have also been struck by many of the similarities, particularly in relation to the role of individual decision-making and consequently the behavioural response of those at risk. When watching the recent and ongoing news about the COVID-19 crisis and the actions of us all over these difficult months, I have been reminded of how the impact of human behaviour and our decisions matter for both our individual and collective outcomes. We are all having to make decisions every day about our exposure to risks and behavioural actions we may take to mitigate them (e.g., should I go to the supermarket later in the day as it is less busy? Should I drive to my destination, rather than take public transport? When it is best I wear a mask? Should I accept a vaccine if offered?). The behavioural response of those at risk of flooding can also be of critical importance to both individual and community impact and is a key theme running through many of the papers in this special issue. [...]