A No-Regrets Framework for Sustainable Individual and Collective Flood Preparedness Under Uncertainty

Joy Ommer (), Milan Kalas, Jessica Neumann, Sophie Blackburn and Hannah L. Cloke
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Joy Ommer: KAJO s.r.o., Sladkovicova 228/8, 01401 Bytca, Slovakia
Milan Kalas: KAJO s.r.o., Sladkovicova 228/8, 01401 Bytca, Slovakia
Jessica Neumann: Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6UR, UK
Sophie Blackburn: Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6UR, UK
Hannah L. Cloke: Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6UR, UK

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-27

Abstract: Why should we prepare for a flood which might never happen? Uncertainty around potential future hazards significantly limits citizens’ disaster preparedness, as it influences decision-making and action-taking greatly. To bridge this knowledge–action gap, we developed a novel, no-regrets framework for sustainable flood preparedness under uncertainty, building on a systematic literature review (PRISMA method) and an integrative review of preparedness actions. The review of 364 articles revealed that while no-regrets principles are widely applied in climate policy and risk management, they are not tailored to personal preparedness. Our resulting framework defines clear no-regrets criteria for individual and household-level preparedness (robustness, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, co-benefits, and ease of implementation) and categorizes 80+ flood preparedness actions according to four levels of uncertainty, from unknown futures to imminent hazards. Notably, we found that long-term preparedness actions remain underutilized, psychological preparedness is largely absent, and existing guidance is biased toward physical risk reduction in high-income contexts. This framework offers a practical tool for practitioners, local authorities, and community groups to promote actionable, context-sensitive flood preparedness worldwide and can be adapted to other hazards in future work.

Keywords: disaster preparedness; climate change adaptation; sustainable development; disaster risk reduction; psychological preparedness; uncertainty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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