Experience, risk, warnings, and demographics: Predictors of evacuation decisions in Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017 provided opportunities to study demographic and experiential predictors of evacuation behavior, including factors that differ between hurricanes. A Qualtrics panel targeted the 12 Texas counties evacuated during Hurricane Harvey, and the 23 Florida counties and 27 Georgia ZIP codes evacuated during Hurricane Irma. 822 respondents completed the survey 14–21 December 2017, including demographic and experiential variables related to evacuation. Younger adults and those who lived with children were more likely to evacuate. Perceived risk and previous trauma were associated with evacuation, but hurricane experience was not. In two logistic regressions, frequency of receiving evacuation orders and perceived risk remained as significant predictors, including subjective and objective measures of the degree to which others evacuate. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.