Facing New Threats: Impact of Risk Perceptions, Informational Sources, and Experiences on Protective Actions

Over the last few years, we have seen and will continue to see record-breaking climate-related weather extremes. According to the National Climate Assessment, communities across the country are currently experiencing the impacts of climate change. More frequent and intense extreme weather and climate-related events and changes in average climate conditions are expected to continue damaging infrastructure, ecosystems, and social systems that benefit communities. As weather becomes less predictable and more severe, examining how residents perceive and experience new threats is imperative. This research project examined two tornado events that took place in New Orleans. Damaging tornados hit New Orleans, Louisiana, twice in 2022, causing several fatalities and millions of dollars in damages. The first tornado that hit the city on March 22, 2022, was classified as an EF-3, followed by another tornadic event eight months later on December 14, 2022, classified as an EF-2. Through a narrative interview process and location-based sampling, this research project explores the risk perceptions of residents exposed to an uncommon weather threat, the informational sources residents relied on during the tornado events, how previous experiences shaped perceptions of the new experiences as well as the protective action decision-making that took place during the severe weather event.