Examining Intraethnic Disparities in Tornado Hazard Understanding, Reception, and Response in Latinx/e Communities in the Southeast United States Weather, Climate, and Society

The Southeast region in the United States has a high risk for tornadoes and tornado-related losses (e.g., fatalities, injuries, damages). For the public in tornado-vulnerable areas, receiving warning information is essential for seeking protective action during a tornado event. However, for Latinx/e households in the Southeast, social, cultural, and political factors pertaining to language barriers, cultural differences, and trust in public officials often inhibit the effectiveness of warning communication strategies. The current study utilized a survey among 820 Latinx/e adults across 11 states in the U.S. Southeast. Using the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney (WMW) test, we examined if language, nativity, and immigration status impacted how Latinx/e populations receive, understand, and act upon severe weather information in the Southeast region. Results found intraethnic disparities related to tornado hazard understanding, reception, and response among Latinx/e adults based on language, nativity, and U.S. citizenship status. These findings suggest that NWS and its partners work with Latinx/e communities to adjust their communication strategies to consider ethnic heterogeneity in future hazard research, alert systems, and targeted outreach campaigns. Grant no. NA22OAR4590520