Risk Perception of Vulnerable Populations in the Midwest and Southeast During Tornado Warning Events

Studies have shown that the area traditionally known as tornado alley is shifting from the Midwest to the southeastern US. The shift in region is placing a portion of the Southeast who are vulnerable to tornadoes at increased threat during these events. Therefore, it is important to understand the people who live there to effectively communicate warnings. This presentation will use the University of Oklahoma’s Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis' Extreme Weather and Society Survey to compare how tornado risk is perceived by vulnerable populations within the Southeast and Midwest. The results highlight the perception of tornado risk in the Southeast despite the addition of hurricane messaging.