Flood 2002 in the Czech Republic: Psycho-Social Aspects

The Institute of Psychology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in cooperation with Czech Catholic Charity carried out a study about the 2002 Czech floods victims and various forms of help they were offered. Research project consisted of 3 main parts: a large scale questionnaire survey investigating the floods victims and the recipients of help, thematic interviews ("focus groups") with the helpers and the analysis of media coverage of floods, their victims and helpers. In the quantitative part of our research we investigated sample of 492 flooded households chosen randomly from all flooded regions. Structured interview technique was used, supplemented with several scales (evaluating level of help, impact of the event, as well as stress and traumatic manifestations etc.). The aim of the study was to create parallel pictures of the course of the floods and the life after the floods, to describe respondents' perception of the continuous help and their own personal experience with floods in relation to their course and the help provided. The whole research report was provided to the Czech Catholic Charity and to German Charity; partial results were presented or published both in Czech and international contexts. Currently we are preparing more complex publication about floods as one type of catastrophic events, their victims and the help provided to them. We will also pursue further our research activities.