The Long-term Socioeconomic Consequences of the Tisza Flood of 2001 in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, Hungary.

Abstract

The extreme weather conditions caused by the climate change have strong impact on the everyday life of people. This study aims to analyse the changes in the life quality of those who live in the villages and towns affected by the 2001 floods in north-east Hungary. The study is based on statistical data and a survey conducted in nine settlements of the afflicted area. The floods had strong impact on the built environment and on local communities as well. According to our results, the majority of locals have experienced the negative effects of floods and had their homes ruined or damaged. The respondents experienced flood-related migration in the studied area and their impression was that mainly poor and unemployed people inmigration to the studied area.

Keywords

• quality of life
• environmental inequality
• floods
• Tisza
• disaster