Surveying the Public About Their Perception and Response to “Everyday” Severe Weather

Many surveys of public perception and response to weather events focus on dramatic extreme weather, or focus on general attitudes towards a hazard or warnings. This talk will address the importance of learning about people’s specific response and perceptions to “everyday” severe weather to provide actionable information that NWS forecasters can use in collaboration with their local safety partners to improve public response. In fall 2018 and spring 2019, the CASA project distributed on line surveys through mobile apps, social media, and emails to residents of the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex to understand warning perception and behavior for high wind events, EF1 and EF0 tornados, heavy rains, and flash floods as they occurred throughout severe weather season. We will discuss sampling strategies and response, rapid iterations of survey design, and the survey results. Moreover, we will suggest ways in which this strategy can be replicated in other NWS county warning areas.