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Video: When it Storms, Who Stays Home, Who Leaves and Why?
Video: Dr. Jennifer Marlon explains why, in the face of a hurricane, some people decide to evacuate, while others try to ride out the storm.
When it storms: who stays home, who leaves and why.
Video: Dr. Jennifer Marlon explains why, in the face of a hurricane, some people decide to evacuate, while others try to ride out the storm.
For some of us, deciding whether or not to evacuate when a severe storm or hurricane is in the forecast isn’t easy. Uncertainty about the weather forecast, work and family obligations, health issues, finances, and other factors can all complicate the process. For others, however, these decisions are easy – we may know relatively quickly that we’re leaving, or we may be committed to staying regardless of what’s in the forecast. But how many of us fall into each of these categories? For planners, public officials, and weather communicators, knowing more about how coastal residents perceive the risks of hurricanes, and how they plan to respond is very helpful. We conducted a study that identifies five different types of people based on how they respond to hurricanes. They are:
- The First Out (21 percent) are willing to evacuate for any hurricanes.
- The Constrained (14 percent) would like to evacuate, but face barriers to leaving.
- The Optimists (16 percent) are doubtful that a hurricane will ever hit them, but say they will evacuate if needed.
- The Reluctant (27 percent) will generally leave only if ordered to.
- The Diehards (22 percent) are confident they can safely ride out the storm and don’t plan to evacuate.