Warning reception, response, and risk behavior surveyed the last 15 years: modernized nws warnings, emergency management, and tv

Following a tornado, surveys were collected at various locations from people living or working in the area (3 mi +/-) for their actions and the actions of those in the damaged area. We (OU Geography Dept.) surveyed quickly the tornado(es) at 1995 Dimmit, Tx, 1998 Birmingham, Al, 1999 Oklahoma City and area, 2000 Siren,Wi, 2007 Lone Grove, Ok, 2010 Norman, Ok area, 2010 East Great Lakes, and others. The purpose of the field operations were to collect geographical, demographical, behavioral, and attitudinal information from a sample of survivors, and to the fullest of all decedents. Respondent data were analyzed for patterns in warning access, warning source, warning compliance, and lead time, as well as for geographical and cultural variables such as shelter availability, tornado hazard perception, and opinions about the warning systems including the television coverage. Goals were to catalog differences between survivor and decedent traits to identify successful warning operations and media practices; to delineate the warning environment as characterized by situational awareness; and to compare these findings to previous research. For the most part, risk factors for survival included TV warnings specifically, and for the most part has a negative finding for NOAA Weather Radio and sirens. TV STATIONS INCLUDED, IF WE ARE GOING TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT IT, WILL NOT BE NAMED.