How People Get and Use Storm Risk and Emergency Information Now Catherine F. Smith, Ken Wilson, Donna Kain

Meaningful = accessible understandable relevant/applicable usable Action = any activity or process Decision

Is severe weather risk and emergency information delivered, received, understood?

EMs and PIOs need to know how communications are delivered, received, and understood. You are partners in this research. Let’s discuss the takeaways.

Limit of communication effectiveness is people. "The greatest limitation to flood warnings is human behavior.” Steven Molino, floodplain manager Limiting factors: - Risk awareness, risk perception, location, situation, social networks, communication technology and media, message characteristics.

Communication works best when communicators account for people’s ways of making sense of information.

Case study of hurricane risk and emergency communication in eastern NC We surveyed 20 counties and interviewed 6 counties in-depth. SurveyedInterviewed Residents (year-round) Businesses and Organizations Local Government Officials (EMs, PIOs, county managers, county commissioners,) N/A24

Findings from phone surveys in 20 counties Insights from interviews/focus groups in 6 counties Discussion throughout

“Hurricane Risk Perception and Emergency Communication Effectiveness in Coastal Zones” Catherine F. Smith, Donna J. Kain, Kenneth Wilson Research Assistants Michelle Covi, Douglas Solomon, and others Supported by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sea Grant North Carolina and East Carolina University

Most people consult a mix of sources We asked about nine sources − TV − Social Networks and Information Networks − Commercial Radio − Internet − Newspapers − NOAA Weather radio − Alert services − Local Officials − State/National Officials

Commercial TV is used by largest percentage of residents and businesses/ organizations

Other sources are used by smaller percentages.

Some sources are never used

Housing Type Television Service Cable Satellite (no local alert capability) Broadcast Phone Service Landline Cell phone (possible alert capability)

*Rating based on scale 1 to 5, where 5 is best and 1 is worst

The internet lags behind older media. Alert services are in the mix. Businesses/organizations “get” EM. Residents “get” severe weather but they do not rely on EM information or use public sources. Peoplenetwork toprocess information.

Most businesses (72%) reported they had a plan for dealing with severe weather emergencies. Over half (55%) of the businesses that have plans have had their plan for 10 years Over half (54%) have had their emergency plans tested by a severe weather event. Businesses expect a hurricane to seriously impact the area in the next 10 years.

Businesses tend to adopt their severe weather plans as a response to a severe weather event (48%) to another type of emergency (8%) Fewer responded to external requirements 16% due to a law or regulation 9% insurance requirements 7% required by the home office

Preparation for severe weather events (95%) Closing during an emergency (82%) Re-entry and re-opening (80%) Internal communications (76%) Assisting employees to evacuate (67%) Business continuity (64%) Remaining open during an emergency (63%) Back-up power (62%) Dealing with the public (62%) External communications (55%) Long term recovery (53%) Assisting employees to return to the area (52%) Informing the public (51%)

Only one-third (33%) shared their plan with the local emergency managers. During emergencies, businesses communicate with: County emergency management group (48%) City or county government (44%)

Being in an ocean-front county does not increase the likelihood that a business will have a plan. Being established longer does not increase the likelihood that a business will have a plan. Being locally owned and having one location decreases the likelihood that a business will have a plan (65% vs 87%). More employees increases the likelihood of having a plan Over 100, 92% have a plan 11 to 100, 77% have a plan 1 to 10, 59% have a plan

Many households take the threat seriously 68% reported that they had a disaster preparedness plan 76% know the location of an emergency shelter 91% know the evacuation route from their home 82% know if an evacuation order covers their home

However: 39% report that an evacuation order makes them “much more likely to evacuate 26% report that an evacuation order has “no effect on my decision” 18% are not sure if an evacuation order covers their home

14% reported at least one time they did not evacuate when they should have Why: did not feel threatened (28%) did not realize how bad the storm would be (22%) thought the storm was not severe or close enough (15%). While people are confident that they will make the right decision, people make mistakes.

“Once you think your safety may be at risk, what are the most important considerations when deciding whether or not to evacuate?” Strength of the hurricane (93%) Direction of the hurricane (78%) A mandatory evacuation order (67%) People want to make their own decision but your evacuation orders are part of their decision- making process

Things are getting better and families are more willing to plan for an emergency today In our survey, 68% of respondents had a plan After Hurricane Floyd, only 56% had a plan After Hurricane Bonnie, only 49% had a plan A Socioeconomic Impact Analysis for Hurricanes Bonnie, Dennis and Floyd by John C. Whitehead, Marieke Van Willigen, Bob Edwards, Kenneth Wilson and John Maiolo, the Final Report to North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (HMGP ) and North Carolina Sea Grant (NCSU ), June 2001.

Most businesses and organizations take severe weather emergencies seriously. They have plans they adopted because they thought they needed them Their plans have been tested in real emergencies Problems are concentrated in smaller, single location businesses

Many households take severe weather events seriously but a significant minority does not. Almost one person in 10 does not know the evacuation route from their home. People seem to consider your evacuation orders as “an important piece of information” in making their evacuation decision. People are confident in their decisions but they do make serious mistakes. Things are getting better.