Untangling the myth of flood risk and mitigation in affluent inland urban neighbourhood – A case study of the Onion Creek Neighbourhood in Austin, Texas

Abstract

Floods pose significant threats to communities and homes, necessitating robust flood risk management to enhance community resilience. Plenty of research has confirmed that flood risk management and mitigation are often social and political issues where justice and equity must be examined (e.g. [1]). Onion Creek Neighbourhood (OCN) is a known flood-prone area and a high-income suburban neighbourhood in Austin, Texas. Through investigating the reasons behind the residents' continued habitation in or relocation to OCN, this research seeks to deepen our understanding about how affluence inland urban neighbourhoods respond to flood risk. Equipped with the 3-dimensional lens for examining behavior change in flood risk management [2], we argue that flood risk management and mitigation is as much a behavior change movement for these affluent urban communities as it is a justice and resource issue for some other communities. We collected data on OCN residents’ perceptions, experiences, and behaviors related to flood risk, mitigation, and community resilience through an open-ended survey in 2021. The findings reveal diverse factors, such as lack of alternate akin housing options, attachment to the pleasant neighbourhood and environment, proximity to downtown Austin, and strong community ties, all of which create barriers for OCN residents to relocate out of the neighbourhood while sustaining their desires for comparable community and environment amenities. The study calls for tailored strategies and policies that account for residents' needs and preferences to mobilize communities for sustainable development and disaster preparedness in flood-prone areas like Onion Creek Neighbourhood.