FACTORS INFLUENCING FLOOD PREPAREDNESS BEHAVIOR OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE PING RIVER BASIN, CHIANG MAI

บทคัดย่อ

This study had the objective to study the factors related to knowledge, attitudes, perceived risk, and experience that influence the flood preparedness of government agencies in the Ping River basin, Chiang Mai Province and to develop policy recommendations for disaster management. A mixed methods approach was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 209 government agencies selected through stratified random sampling, using a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.98. Qualitative data were gathered through open-ended questions and in-depth interviews with 5 key informants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and content analysis to ensure consistency with the research objectives.

The findings showed a behavioral paradox, reflecting that government agencies demonstrated the highest level of knowledge on flood preparedness (mean = 4.27) and a positive attitude towards flood preparedness (mean = 4.00). However, practical flood preparedness behavior was significantly lower (mean = 3.42), particularly in the resource management (mean= 3.29). This is in line with factors related to a moderate level of experience and perceived risk. Qualitative data also showed that the main problems were not personnel but structural failures, namely separate work processes and inflexible budgetary regulations across administrative areas. A new knowledge found is the “institutional knowledge trap,” showing that knowledge and paper plans did not accurately reflect practical disaster response capabilities. Therefore, the researchers proposed a reform of disaster management towards an area-based management, changing from administrative assumptions to hydrological management and simulation drills to enhance proactive simulation experiences for personnel in the area.