1. Aim and Study site Improving flood risk management through risk communication strategies José María Bodoque (1), Andrés Díez-Herrero (2), María Amerigo (3), Juan Antonio García (3), Jorge Olcina (4), and Beatriz Cortés (3) (1) Mining and Geological Engineering Department,.University of Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Fábrica de Armas, Avda. Carlos III, Toledo E-5071, Spain., (2) Department of Research and Geoscientific Prospective, Geological Survey of Spain, Madrid, Spain, (3) Research Group on Environmental Psychology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain., (4) University of Alicante, Dept. Of Regional Geographycal Analysis, Spain 7 This research aimed to assess the flash-flood risk perception of the inhabitants of the village of Navaluenga (Central Spain), as well as the level of awareness of the civil protection and emergency management strategies developed with the main objective of safeguarding people and assets exposed to particular threats derived from flash-flood occurrence. In addition, a communication strategy was designed aiming to improve perception and awareness of local people. This work was focused on the village of Navaluenga (Central Spain), in which we have been studying flash floods, under the consideration of different perspectives and using different approaches, for the past 20 years; and in which the regional government has recently approved the local Civil Protection Plan. Location of the study area. Coordinate system: ETRS89, UTM Zone 30 N. There are several points of conflict in the reaches studied: i) B1 and B2 correspond to bridges on the Alberche River; ii) W is a weir also on the Alberche River; and iii) C1 to C7 represent culverts on the Alberche River and the Chorreron Stream. Methodological approach Improvements in risk perception and awareness due to the implementation of the communication plan Phases involved in the development of the Navaluenga’s Civil Protection Plan Flood risk communication in the context of Civil protection Methodology implemented to assess social perception and awareness previously/subsequently of putting into practice the communication plan Acknowledgements: This research was funded by the project MARCoNI (MINECO, CGL2013- 42728-R); and by the earlier projects of this research team, as MAS Dendro-Avenidas (MINECO, CGL2010-19274; www.dendro-avenidas.es) and MIDHATO-Venero (IGME 2013/2313). The authors also wish to thank the collaboration of the local govermment of Navaluenga and especially to Ricardo Peña and the students from the Valle del Alberche high school who conducted the surveys. Conclusions: The social resilience level of the population of Navaluenga to the occurrence of flash floods was analysed by considering flood risk perception and the level of awareness of the recently approved Civil Protection Plan. In this regard, the analysis carried out during the first phase showed that both risk perception and awareness levels were low among the local people. The analysis of the effectiveness of the communication plan has proven effective in finding an increased awareness gained by the people of the fundamental issues addressed in the Civil Protection Plan. However, in terms of statistical significance the communication plan was not produced any appreciable differences in the social perception of flood. Lifetime risk perception differences (A) and differences on the level of awareness (B-F) regarding the Civil Protection Plan. The analysis was based on the participation level in the Communication Plan. ABC F ED