“Risky Rudi” – A Card Game for Communicating Flood Risk and Mitigation Strategies

Effective communication of flood risk and the importance of mitigation strategies is crucial to strengthen resilience in communities facing increasing climate challenges. Risky Rudi is an innovative, interactive card game designed to engage players in understanding the three dimensions of risk - hazard, vulnerability and exposure - while exploring the complexities of flood risk management decision-making.

Players act as mayors and are tasked with maintaining their city's resilience score with a limited amount of money. The game includes risk reduction cards categorized by hazard, vulnerability and exposure, each with a cost and effectiveness score (1-10). These cards simulate real-world actions such as developing infrastructure, installing early warning systems, improving education, etc.  Periodic flood events, whose intensities are determined by a dice roll,  request players to use these measures strategically.

Risky Rudi also includes funding cards, representing financial support, and obstruction cards, such as political influence or social inequality, to reflect systemic challenges in flood risk management. Joker cards, such as the climate scientist, provide an additional element to the game mechanics.

Through the game, participants gain insight into the interconnectedness of risk components, the cost-effectiveness of different interventions, and the socio-political barriers to implementation.