Flood Hazard and Response to the Palcacocha Early Warning System in Andean Microenterprises
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47606/ACVEN/PH0402Keywords:
Cordillera Blanca, Palcacocha lagoon, micro-enterprises, flood risk, early warning systemAbstract
This research aimed to determine the relationship between the level of perceived risk of flooding and the acceptance of the early warning system at the Palcacocha lagoon among micro-entrepreneurs in an Andean city in Peru. This is a particularly relevant context given the ongoing threat that this lagoon poses to the city of Huaraz and its surroundings. The target population consisted of micro-entrepreneurs who live or operate their businesses in the area known as the flood-prone zone or Quilcay River basin. A survey using questionnaires was administered to 386 micro-entrepreneurs. The questionnaire used to measure acceptance of the system included four dimensions and 20 items. Similarly, the questionnaire used to measure perceived flood risk included three dimensions and 16 items. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test yielded a p-value < 0.05, indicating that none of the variables were normally distributed. Therefore, Spearman's rho (0.974) was used. The study also showed that social and economic factors influence how micro-entrepreneurs react to risks. Concerns about business continuity, informal urban planning practices, and a lack of clear information about the early warning system limit the full acceptance of this tool. These results are consistent with international studies that demonstrate how perceived risk alone does not always translate into protective actions when structural barriers and a lack of institutional trust exist.
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