Hurricane Forecast Messages: Comparing Perceptions of Trust,Understanding,and Information-Seeking Behaviors in Adults

Abstract

Hurricane events like that of Hurricane Dorian in 2019 have raised concerns over how hurricane risk information is disseminated to audiences. Some scholars have begun to question whether meteorologists are trusted enough to share hurricane messages effectively or if computers could perform better. This study examines how the risk perceptions, trust, understanding, and information-seeking behaviors of a non-college student sample from Florida may be impacted by who (or what) provides them with hurricane risk information. We conducted a quasi-experimental survey and found that our human + graphics condition fostered more accurate risk perceptions, higher levels of trust, and higher levels of understanding. These results compare favorably with our previous study based on a college student sample from Florida. When taken together, both studies affirm the importance of meteorologists and weather broadcasters in delivering hurricane risk information.