In areas that are prone to floods, residents resort to building on high ground above flood levels, creating artificial hills to create high ground, or creating dikes to contain the flood waters (Plate, 2002). Are these preventive actions or contingency actions? Do these actions reduce the likelihood of floods or reduce the consequences of floods? In addition, when a flood does occur, residents may close openings with sandbags or brick walls or move belongings to higher parts of a building. Are these preventive actions or contingency actions?