Indirect experiences and storm risk perceptions: Case study - Texas, United States.

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Risk perception studies
• Climate change adaptation

Background:

• Hurricanes cause significant U.S. damages, exacerbated by climate change impacts like sea level rise.
• Understanding public risk perception is crucial for effective mitigation and adaptive behaviors.
• While direct hazard experience influences perception, indirect experiences (expert, political, social) are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how direct and indirect experiences influence storm risk perception among Texas residents.
• To assess the effects of expert, political, and social influences on risk perception, controlling for flood experience and demographics.

Main Methods:

• Survey of 603 Texas residents in 2021.
• Structural equation modeling to analyze influences on risk perception.
• Confirmatory factor analysis to ensure measure reliability and validity.

Main Results:

• Recent flood experience significantly increases risk perception and all indirect experiences.
• Expert and social influences positively impact risk perception; political influence has a negative effect.
• Higher education and income correlate with lower risk perception; indirect experiences mediate direct flood experience effects.

Conclusions:

• Credible expert and social information channels are vital for enhancing public risk perception.
• Responsible political communication is needed to improve community preparedness and resilience in hurricane-prone areas.
• Indirect experiences play a key role in mediating the relationship between direct flood experience and overall risk perception.