Mel Taylor

Dan Peled/AAP

May 18, 2023

Fixing broken flood gauges is important. But most of us don’t evacuate even when we know the water is coming

Mel Taylor, Macquarie University; Fiona Miller, Macquarie University, and Kat Haynes, University of Wollongong

Yes, we need better flood warnings. But most of us don’t or can’t evacuate from floods. Safety means focusing on community resilience as well as warnings

Diego Fidele/AAP

October 16, 2022

‘Would you like lunch? Can I clean out the chook house?’: what flood survivors actually need after disaster strikes

Mel Taylor, Macquarie University and Barbara Ryan, University of Southern Queensland

2022 has been Australia’s year of freak floods. Here’s what stricken Victorians are set to experience in the weeks and months ahead.

Dan Himbrechts/AAP

August 18, 2022

No, not again! A third straight La Niña is likely – here’s how you and your family can prepare

Mel Taylor, Macquarie University and Katharine Haynes, University of Wollongong

Catchments are full. Dams are at capacity, soils are saturated and rivers are high. In some cases, there’s nowhere for the rains to go except over land.

Mark Baker/AP

March 22, 2021

Why do people try to drive through floodwater or leave it too late to flee? Psychology offers some answers

Garry Stevens, Western Sydney University; Mel Taylor, Macquarie University, and Spyros Schismenos, Western Sydney University

The expert advice is to never drive, walk, or ride through flood waters. Unfortunately, however, this is advice often not heeded. Research on psychology and floods reveals clues as to why.

Dale Palmer prepares his home in NSW for the bushfires. The decision to stay and defend one’s property requires a person to be mentally, as well as physically, prepared. AAP/Darren Pateman

November 20, 2019

It’s hard to breathe and you can’t think clearly – if you defend your home against a bushfire, be mentally prepared

Danielle Every, CQUniversity Australia and Mel Taylor, Macquarie University

In catastrophic fire conditions, leaving early is the only safe option. But in other conditions, one thing that’s often overlooked in decisions to stay or go is how mentally tough you need to be.

Isiah Courtney carries his dog Bruce through flood waters from Tropical Storm Harvey in Beaumont Place, Houston, Texas, U.S., on August 28, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman

September 5, 2017

Seven ways to protect your pets in an emergency

Mel Taylor, Macquarie University

In the wake of natural disasters, pets are be stranded, lost or abandoned. There are simple guidelines that can help keep your whole family safe.

6

41