Shelter Seeking Plans of Tuscaloosa Residents for a Future Tornado Event

Abstract

The enhanced Fujita scale category 4 (EF4) Tuscaloosa, Alabama, tornado on 27 April 2011 produced 64 fatalities along its 130-km track. Hybrid survey/interviews were conducted with a sample of 211 Tuscaloosa-area residents to determine how the 27 April tornado might change future shelter-seeking plans. Despite a history of tornadoes in the area, only 47% of Tuscaloosa residents had shelter plans in place prior to 27 April, but 62% intend to change their shelter plans or have shelters plans for the future. Changes in shelter-seeking plans were divided into four groups and discussed according to commonalities. Logistic regression with demographic variables was then used to predict those likely to have shelter plans before 27 April and those likely to change their shelter plans in the future. Among these variables, residents over age 55 [odds ratio (OR) 8.9, 95%; confidence interval (CI): 2.167–36.352] and those having a bachelor's degree (OR 5.1, CI: 1.342–19.316) were more likely to have had shelter plans before 27 April. The most significant variable indicating a change in future shelter-seeking plans is being Hispanic/Latino (OR 5.2, CI: 1.753–15.465). These results may assist National Weather Service (NWS) personnel, broadcast meteorologists, emergency managers, and city planners with the development of targeted warning communication tactics and safety strategies for a future tornado event.

Facebook and Twitter, communication and shelter, and the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado

“…The campus sample was overwhelmingly white and aged between 19 and 24 years, so five random samples of 211 campus respondents were compared to a more diverse non-campus sample of 211 respondents from the city of Tuscaloosa (Senkbeil, Rockman, and Mason, 2012). Five random samples were chosen to gain a better understanding of possible differences that might have been misleading when using fewer than five samples.…”

Perceptions and Expected Immediate Reactions to Severe Storm Displays

“…Just over half (51%) of those who experienced both the 1999 and 2003 Moore Oklahoma tornadoes took the same action on both occasions; those who took less protective action in the second tornado were offset by an equal percentage who took more protective action . Based on their experience in the April 27, 2011 tornado, almost two‐thirds (62%) of Tuscaloosa respondents expected to change their tornado shelter plans …”

“…Examination of demographic variables has found that having at least a high school diploma is positively related to responding to a warning message . Females are more likely than males to provide high p s judgments, avoid warning confirmation from environmental cues, and to shelter in safe locations, but there is conflicting evidence on their tendency to seek warning confirmation from social sources.…”

Predictors of compliance with tornado warnings issued in Joplin, Missouri, in 2011

“…Furthermore, knowing where to go during a tornado is just as important as receiving a warning (Senkbeil, Rockman, and Mason, 2012). Safe cover may not necessarily be a designated shelter located near a residence, workplace, or shopping facility.…”

“…Moreover, experts recommend staying away from windows and covering one's head, identifying a safe location in advance, and talking to family members and/or colleagues to ensure a quicker response time (Knapp, 2012;Senkbeil, Rockman, and Mason, 2012). Moreover, experts recommend staying away from windows and covering one's head, identifying a safe location in advance, and talking to family members and/or colleagues to ensure a quicker response time (Knapp, 2012;Senkbeil, Rockman, and Mason, 2012).…”