An Examination of What Prompts Protective Actions in the Face of New Tornado Threats

The 2022 March and December tornados were the first tornado experience for many New Orleans residents. As New Orleans is a region prone to hurricanes, the question arises of how one perceives and is prompted to seek protective measures in the face of a new threat? To understand this perspective, researchers adopted the Narrative story approach for respondents to tell their side of the story regarding the phenomenon. Participants relied heavily on TV weather broadcasts and environmental cues to seek protective measures. This study provides the perspective of new weather threat experiences and offers insight into what motivates protective measures.