Disaster communication ecology and community resilience perceptions following the 2013 central Illinois tornadoes

Abstract

On November 17, 2013, a series of tornadoes struck several communities in central Illinois. Approximately four months following these tornadoes we surveyed residents in Washington and Pekin, Illinois to examine the relationships between disaster communication (i.e., tornado media use, tornado social media use, tornado talk, and tornado mental health talk) and community resilience perceptions. Results indicate disaster communication positively influences perceptions of communities as caring and capable of learning how to improve from a disaster. Our results advance the theorization of disaster communication ecologies and provide practical implications for public health and emergency management officials working to foster resilience at the community level.