000			01966pab a2200193 454500
008			180718b2000 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
100			_aDow, Kirstin
245			_aPublic orders and personal opinions: household strategies for hurricane risk assessment
260			_c2000
300			_ap.143-55
362			_aDec
520			_aThis paper examines the relationship between household evacuation decisions and official emergency management practices in light of recent increases in the availability and diversity of hurricane-related information. While we focus on Hurricane Floyd in South Carolina, we incorporate findings of our longitudinal research effort covering the last four years and six post-1995 hurricane threats to the state. While only 64% of residents in the mandatory evacuation zone complied with the Hurricane Floyd evacuation order, over 80% agreed that calling an evacuation was an appropriate precautionary response given the uncertainties of the storm. Longitudinal ssurveys indicate that Horry County residents have developed a fairly robust strategy in making evacuation decisions. This "hurricane savvy" population depends more heavily on individuals' assessments of risks than on official orders. Individual assessment practices differ from official orders in that greater weight is given to household circumstances and preferences, the diligent monitoring of a variety of information sources, and the incorporation of past experiences into the decision-making process. Surveys indicate differences between the general public and officials in terms of priorities and preferences about hurricane evacuations. The public demands more information about the hurricane threat. Officials place more emphasis on planning evacuation routes and public safety measures. - Reproduced
650			_aDisasters
650			_aStorms
650			_aCyclones
700			_aCutter, Susan L.
773			_aEnvironmental Hazards
909			_a50449
999			_c50449 _d50449