Work

How Mobile Home Residents Understand and Respond to Tornado Warnings

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Mobile home residents experience higher fatality rates from tornadoes than “fixed home” residents. Yet, research on how mobile home residents understand and respond to tornado warnings is lacking. Such research can help meteorologists and their partners better communicate tornado risk. We conducted four surveys with residents of the southeastern United States. This region has the highest concentration of tornado fatalities and killer tornadoes, in part because of the high density of mobile homes. Findings reveal that today’s tornado warning system inadequately prepares mobile home residents to respond safely to tornadoes. The study offers recommendations for how to improve tornado communication for mobile and fixed home residents.

Source: Weather Climate and Society

DOI: 10.1175/wcas-d-17-0080.1

Authors: Brooke Fisher Liu, Michael Egnoto, JungKyu Rhys Lim

Institutions: University of Maryland, College Park, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

Language: English

Topic: Disaster Management and Resilience

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration