A Cross-Community Comparison of Antecedents of Hurricane Ian Risk Perceptions and Evacuation Behaviours

Abstract

This study seeks to understand how historical models of risk perception and protective action antecedents, as predicted by The Protective Action Decision Model (PADM), apply across micro-regional differences in the context of Florida counties during the 2022 Hurricane Ian, and how these regional differences may lead to differences in reception, perception and response to information and evacuation warnings across the state. Two Florida communities (Southwest vs. Central and Eastern regions) with different typography, historical disaster experience, demographics and existing hazard adjustment programs were surveyed and compared. Results showed that, within the same hurricane event and broader geographic region (Florida), the two community locations differ in their reliance on information sources, social cues and prior hurricane experiences to inform risk perceptions and evacuation decisions. Additionally, different mediation patterns of risk perceptions were found between the antecedents and evacuation behaviours for the different community locations. The findings imply the importance to consider regional variations and to strategize messaging communicating risk and self-protective behaviours accordingly.