Perthshire flood victims have been warned they face an increasing likelihood of storm devastation with no sure means of protection.
Just a tiny fraction of homes at risk of flooding across Scotland can call upon traditional flood prevention measures.
And respected academic, Professor Alan Werrity from the University of Dundee, believes that communities will increasingly have to take on the costly burden of protecting themselves.
Speaking as part of a study on flood risk management with the Perth-based Royal Scottish Geographical Society, he said the alternative was simply too expensive for councils to countenance.
He also warned that, given climate change, the repeated localised flooding faced by some Scottish towns was likely to occur more often.
Comrie experienced horrendous floods in August and November 2012, when the streets became rivers and a number of homes had to be evacuated.
Flood defence works have since been undertaken in and around the town, but it remains to be seen whether they will prove enough to prevent future damage.
Local campaigners have called for additional funding, but without significant success.
Money made available most recently to residents in Comrie was aimed at supporting the purchase of measures to enable residents to protect their own homes.
Professor Werrity said the challenges being faced by such communities was forcing “a radical new approach” to flood management risk in Scotland.
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