How Weather Information Influences the Publics Actions Before and During Urban Flash Floods

Weather forecasts and warnings provide information to the public(s) so that individuals can take action to keep themselves and loved ones safe. Lindell and Perry’s Protective Action Decision Model (PDAM) describes a complex, multistage process during which individuals interpret warnings, social and environmental cues to personalize risk and determine whether taking action is necessary. Once a decision is made to act, situational factors can affect what actions a person may ultimately end up taking. PDAM views weather warnings as one of many factors that individuals consider in the hazard perception and response process. This talk will examine the role of weather information disseminated by NWS and its partners for individual urban flash flood decision-making in the before and during the event. The data for this study was collected through a Weather Program Office Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences grant, “Using Quick Response Surveys to Build a Public Perception and Response Database”. In this grant, university researchers are collaborating with nine National Weather Service Forecast Offices to disseminate surveys to the public 1 - 14 days after a medium to high-end tornado, severe thunderstorm, flash flood, or winter weather event occurs in a forecast office’s County Warning Area (CWA). The surveys seek capture how an individual navigates an unfolding weather hazard. They explore how warnings, social and environmental cues, situational factors, and demographics influence individual actions before and during a weather event.