Ready for disaster: information seeking, media influence, and disaster preparation for severe weather outbreaks

In light of recent severe weather outbreaks in the U.S., this study seeks to examine how individuals learn about and prepare for potential disasters in their area. Prior research has found that knowledge sufficiency and risk perception are two key factors that influence disaster preparedness. We examine the role of mediated and non-mediated sources in predicting information-seeking behaviors and disaster preparedness activities, as well as what influence the recent weather events may have on those issues. Findings indicated that worry and perceived risk about severe weather were significantly influential on information seeking, but that mediated and nonmediated sources, along with information sufficiency were key predictors of disaster preparedness. The findings are important for both scholars and practitioners of media messaging.