Examining Tension Management of Coastal Residents' Decisions to Stay or Leave During Hurricane Florence

Abstract

This study examines how coastal residents in the path of a hurricane manage the tension to evacuate or stay. In interviews with 17 coastal residents, we found evidence of tension management through account giving. Stayers justified their choices as keeping close to loved ones and animals, reducing difficulties in returning, and benchmarking prior storms to guide their actions over other sources of information. Evacuees framed the tension as either the only choice or the better of two poor choices. Our analysis also revealed contradictions in evacuating: a case of haves (have resources to evacuate but do not) and have nots (want to evacuate, but do not have the resources) and the perception that shelters were not a viable option. Lastly, stayers extracted lessons learned that reinforced their action and would likely guide future behaviours through benchmarking. Implications of these findings are offered for emergency managers, including speaking to residents' tension management, addressing contradictions, and acknowledging lesson learned, are discussed.