The Public's Reliance on Warnings and Directives: A Case Study of the January 28 Winter Weather Event in Alabama and Georgia

This presentation will analyze a case study of the public's reliance on the weather enterprise during an uncertain winter weather forecast. This case study will show how the public reacts to credible sources, which in an uncertain forecast can lead to unforeseen cascading consequences, including people stranded on highways for hours and children having to shelter overnight in their schools. The results of this study provides an understanding of how the public reacts to warnings and directives and how this knowledge can be used by the weather enterprise to plan for atypical severe weather events with cascading consequences.