“You’ve Been Warned?”

Abstract

Outdoor emergency sirens are used as a major component of the Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Alert and Notification System in tornado-prone Alabama and many other areas of the U.S. This study examines public perceptions and reactions to the sirens for notification of tornadoes as well as perceptions of the usefulness of alternative means of notification. In April 2011 a major tornado swept through northeast Alabama leaving in its wake over 300 fatalities and massive destruction. Faculty and students of a mid-sized university in Calhoun County, Alabama were surveyed before and after the devastating 2011 tornado. Although the respondents find the sirens helpful, they have difficulty understanding the tones and spoken messages emitted by the sirens. In general, concerns about tornadoes did not increase after the 2011 tornado. However, those who did experience an increase in concern were likely to change their behavior in preparations and response to tornadoes.