Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{204318,
        author = {Dr.R. Meenambigai},
        title = {DIGITAL COMMUNICATION AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN FLOOD RISK AWARENESS AMONG URBAN RESIDENTS},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {1922-1933},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=204318},
        abstract = {Urban areas in Tamil Nadu face recurring flood disasters driven by erratic monsoon patterns, rapid urbanisation, and inadequate drainage infrastructure. Social media platforms have emerged as powerful channels for disseminating disaster-related information, enabling real-time communication between authorities, communities, and individual residents. However, the extent to which social media usage translates into meaningful flood risk awareness and preparedness behaviour among urban residents remains empirically underexplored. This study investigates the role of digital communication, particularly social media, in enhancing flood risk awareness and preparedness among urban households across Tamil Nadu. A structured questionnaire was administered to 214 urban respondents across Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Salem, and Madurai. The study examines four dimensions: (i) the nature and frequency of social media use for disaster-related information, (ii) the perceived credibility and utility of social media content during flood events, (iii) the relationship between social media engagement and actual flood preparedness behaviour, and (iv) the barriers that prevent digital communication from converting awareness into action. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability testing, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The findings reveal that social media significantly enhances flood risk awareness but translates into preparedness behaviour only when complemented by community trust, perceived self-efficacy, and institutional support. The study offers actionable recommendations for urban planners, emergency management authorities, and digital communication practitioners in strengthening disaster resilience among Tamil Nadu's urban population.},
        keywords = {Social Media, Flood Risk Awareness, Disaster Preparedness, Urban Residents, Digital Communication, Tamil Nadu, Community Resilience, Information Credibility, Emergency Management, Risk Perception.},
        month = {June},
        }