Women facing flood risk: exploring perceptions and indexing social vulnerability in the Vega Baja del Segura, Alicante (Spain)

Understanding how women perceive and experience flood risk is essential for improving its management through gender-responsive strategies and more disaster-resilient societies. This work aims to provide complementary insights into women’s social vulnerability and flood risk perceptions by (a) developing a Female Social Vulnerability Index (FSVI) that incorporates dimensions of vulnerability relevant to women into flood risk assessment, and (b) examining women’s perceptions, experiences, and preparedness in highly flood-prone areas to better understand their awareness and adaptive capacity toward flood risk. Data were collected between April 30 and May 19, 2022, through questionnaires and narratives from 53 women living in the Vega Baja del Segura, a region highly exposed to flash floods in Alicante, Spain. Results show that (1) women living in areas identified by the FSVI as having high social vulnerability reported higher levels of perceived flood risk and personal vulnerability, (2) women who experienced direct impacts from a flood event perceived flood exposure more clearly than those without previous flood experience, and (3) women who positively evaluated municipal flood management actions reported higher levels of preparedness for future flood events. Flood experience emerged as a key factor shaping flood risk perception, while lower risk awareness and preparedness were associated with a reduced capacity to respond effectively during flood events. By integrating the FSVI with evidence on women’s perceptions and experiences, this study provides a complementary framework that supports more inclusive, socially informed, and gender-responsive floodrisk management from a social-learning perspective.