Risk Communication for older adults during Hurricane Ian evacuation orders in Pinellas County

Understanding communication preferences for older adults—those aged 55and older—allows for more effective emergency preparedness strategies for future risk communication planning. With 42.5% (n = 409,230) of the population in Pinellas County 55 years and older, identifying sources of information used among this segment of the population during Hurricane Ian provides further insight into evacuation decisions. Survey questions gauge reliance on thirteen types of communication options for evacuation information with local media, mobile weather apps, social media, and county/city (local) emergency management websites were reviewed for further analysis. As a result, the older adult population relied significantly on local media (62.8%), with 37.8% monitoring local emergency management websites and 30.0% using weather apps to obtain information. Whereas social media (4.8%) played a minimal role in obtaining information. Similarly, it was determined that 71.9% of those who evacuated relied on local media outlets,while 45.4% of those who evacuated used local emergency management preparedness websites, and 37.3% relied on weather apps to obtain information. When the older adult population was asked, “Do you feel you were provided timely information to make a good evacuation choice?” a majority (79.2%) indicated that they definitely believed this to be true with17.5% indicating “somewhat” and only 3.3% stating “not at all.” Findings underscore the importance of traditional media and official emergency channels in guiding evacuation decisions among older adults, emphasizing the need for tailored communication strategies to enhance preparedness and ensure the safety of vulnerable populations during natural hazards.

The Weather Climate and Society REU program invited 10 students from across the US to conduct research projects related to disaster-vulnerable communities in Florida and other extreme weather-affected areas. These projects were interdisciplinary, integrating social science and physical science aspects of severe weather, climate, and related disasters through field work, interviews, and/or spatial analysis of secondary data in GIS. The PI of this REU is Dr. Jennifer Collins.