NOAA Radios and Neighborhood Networks: An Analysis of Information Sources and Trust for Hurricane Evacuations

• In Event: 194 - Regular Session. Disaster

Abstract

This paper presents results from a survey on hurricane evacuation conducted in North Carolina. It also examines several key communication theories with respect to the survey results. We found that respondents used television and radio most frequently for gathering information about the hurricane threats. Furthermore, we found that respondents generally trusted television and radio more than other sources. We found several demographic differences with regards to source type and trust. Specifically, non-white respondents reported more use of community or local government as information sources, females gathered information from multiple sources more than males, and younger residents gathered information from multiple sources more than older respondents. Younger residents also reported gathering more information from community or local government resources, and respondents with lower evacuation thresholds reported gathering more information from the local government or community. Finally, females trusted television as a source more than males, and older respondents trusted the radio as a source more than older respondents. We found no differences with regards to income and source type or trust in source. Implications include considering targeted means for disseminating warning information before and during hazard events.

Authors

• Sarah Elizabeth DeYoung, University of Delaware

• Tricia Wachtendorf, University of Delaware

• Ashley Farmer, University of Delaware

• Samantha Penta, University of Delaware