Longitudinal Changes in Hurricane Hazard Perception

Abstract

Hurricane hazard perception data, periodically collected over a twelve year period from the same sample of Lower Florida Keys residents, were analyzed to determine what changes in hazard perception and mitigation behavior had occurred. Contrary to hypotheses that hazard concerns decline with length of residence in hazard zones, overall perceptions that both hurricane winds and flooding are problems facing local residents have increased. Awareness of the hurricane threat remains high, with two-thirds of the residents stating that it is likely that the area will experience a damaging hurricane within the next ten years, even though a major hurricane has not occurred within the area for nearly three decades.