The Tornado Risk Survey: Assessing Risk Perceptions and Response Actions Among Illinois Residents

Abstract

An improved understanding of intuitive tornado risk judgments and response decisions among diverse populations is necessary for informing community risk assessments, warning communication, and disaster risk reduction policymaking. Existing research acknowledges the significance of individual socio-demographic variables but emphasizes their insufficiency in fully elucidating tornado risk perceptions and behavior. Further research on individual characteristics and place-based variables is needed to understand tornado perception and response action fully. This study applies questionnaire data from the Tornado Risk Survey’s representative sample of Illinois residents, which includes 74 items relating to respondents’ socio-demographics, residence location details, perceptions of tornado risk, and protective action response. The investigation aims to answer: (1) How do tornado risk perceptions and responses compare among population groups (e.g., racial and ethnic status, gender, education level, age, etc.); (2) How do perceptions and responses compare among home and location characteristics (e.g. owner/renter, length of residence, structure type, urban-rural location, etc.); and (3) How do individuals perceptions and responses relate to their county’s rates of tornado occurrence and level of social vulnerability. Through Exploratory Factor Analyses, constructs for perception and response are derived from ten questions each. Geospatial techniques are employed to calculate county-level tornado occurrence rates and a Social Vulnerability Index. The research questions are assessed with descriptive and inferential statistical approaches. Analysis results underscore the multifaceted considerations within tornado perceptions and response behavior dynamics to consider for equitable risk assessments, communication approaches, and public policy.