Abstract
Data from field surveys are discussed that measured the evolution of coastal residents' risk perceptions and preparation plans as two hurricanes, Isaac and Sandy, approached the United States during the 2012 hurricane season. Surveyed residents overestimated the probability that their homes would be affected by hurricane-force winds, but then they displayed limited degrees of concern over this prospect. These residents also underestimated the threat posed by flooding, including people living adjacent to water areas. The surveys revealed that residents nevertheless had a higher awareness of a storm's maximum winds rather than flood potential. Specifically, when respondents were asked to report what they believed Isaac's and Sandy's maximum winds and predicted maximum storm surges to be, respondents were much better at the former than the latter. What was particularly notable was that the tendency to underestimate the relative threat posed by water in Isaac and Sandy even among those for whom the threat should have been most salient.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1389-1404 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |
| Volume | 95 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2014 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atmospheric Science
Cite this
The dynamics of hurricane risk perception : Real-time evidence from the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. / Meyer, Robert J.; Baker, Jay; Broad, Kenneth; Czajkowski, Jeff; Orlove, Ben.
In: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Vol. 95, No. 9, 01.09.2014, p. 1389-1404.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The dynamics of hurricane risk perception
T2 - Real-time evidence from the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season
AU - Meyer, Robert J.
AU - Baker, Jay
AU - Broad, Kenneth
AU - Czajkowski, Jeff
AU - Orlove, Ben
PY - 2014/9/1
Y1 - 2014/9/1
N2 - Data from field surveys are discussed that measured the evolution of coastal residents' risk perceptions and preparation plans as two hurricanes, Isaac and Sandy, approached the United States during the 2012 hurricane season. Surveyed residents overestimated the probability that their homes would be affected by hurricane-force winds, but then they displayed limited degrees of concern over this prospect. These residents also underestimated the threat posed by flooding, including people living adjacent to water areas. The surveys revealed that residents nevertheless had a higher awareness of a storm's maximum winds rather than flood potential. Specifically, when respondents were asked to report what they believed Isaac's and Sandy's maximum winds and predicted maximum storm surges to be, respondents were much better at the former than the latter. What was particularly notable was that the tendency to underestimate the relative threat posed by water in Isaac and Sandy even among those for whom the threat should have been most salient.
AB - Data from field surveys are discussed that measured the evolution of coastal residents' risk perceptions and preparation plans as two hurricanes, Isaac and Sandy, approached the United States during the 2012 hurricane season. Surveyed residents overestimated the probability that their homes would be affected by hurricane-force winds, but then they displayed limited degrees of concern over this prospect. These residents also underestimated the threat posed by flooding, including people living adjacent to water areas. The surveys revealed that residents nevertheless had a higher awareness of a storm's maximum winds rather than flood potential. Specifically, when respondents were asked to report what they believed Isaac's and Sandy's maximum winds and predicted maximum storm surges to be, respondents were much better at the former than the latter. What was particularly notable was that the tendency to underestimate the relative threat posed by water in Isaac and Sandy even among those for whom the threat should have been most salient.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84910074173&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84910074173&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00218.1
DO - 10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00218.1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84910074173
VL - 95
SP - 1389
EP - 1404
JO - Earth Interactions
JF - Earth Interactions
SN - 0003-0007
IS - 9
ER -