Household evacuation decision making during simultaneous events: Hurricane Ida and the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Protective action decisions are complex and require households to consider a variety of factors including hazard risks, household characteristics, location, and experience. Previous research has examined these decisions in the context of a single hazard; however, it is also necessary to consider scenarios whereby two coupled hazards pose simultaneous risks. This paper examines the decision-making of households when making evacuation and shelter-in-place decisions during two simultaneous events: the 2021 Hurricane Ida and the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data gathered from six parishes eight months after the storm were used to analyze risk perception tradeoffs and protective action decisions of households before Hurricane Ida made landfall. The results indicate that higher perceived risks of the hurricane causing injury or death, being vaccinated, having a higher income, having children residing in the home, and having previous experience of evacuating increased the odds of evacuating. Likewise, variables such as higher perceived risks related to being hospitalized or killed by COVID-19, being elderly, and being located further away from the storm track all decreased the likelihood of a household undertaking evacuation. The findings of this study improve understanding of how households consider competing risks during simultaneous hazard events, which in turn can help inform strategies for managing future disaster events involving multiple hazards and risks.