Hinging on the preparedness of first responders. A case study on the 2021 flood operations in Romania

This study aims, through a survey, to identify the triggering factors of coping behaviours among first responders, assessing their perceived preparedness in the context of the flood events that impacted Romania in 2021. The hypothesis is that perceived preparedness might be a predictor of the perception of emergency interventions and the level of disaster response.

The survey's main findings are that several problems have hampered the interventions of the operating forces. The presence of an unprepared or uncooperative population was a major disruption factor for the success of flood emergency interventions. This may indicate areas for improvement in communication and coordination with the population. Other notable issues include the deficient infrastructure that rendered affected areas inaccessible, and the wastewater that hindered transportation. In Romania, this is a typical factor affecting disaster response to floods.