Assessing extreme heat risk perception: Awareness, worry, preparedness and social capital in Texas

Abstract

In the last few decades, extreme heat has emerged as a major hazard risk in many U.S. cities. The risk of exposure to extreme heat is threatening the health and well-being of urban populations. The range of adaptation options available is not solely dependent on individual characteristics, but also on the social contexts within which they are embedded. To better understand adaptive capacity and design effective climate adaptation policies, we need more evidence on how people make adaptation decisions and how risk perception and community context influence those decisions. It is in this context that we study the relationship between heat risk perception and social capital. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of heat risk perception and provides evidence for the relevance of social capital to risk perception. Based on a survey of 3450 residents in urban Texas, this study builds and applies a framework for understanding the characteristics of heat risk perception (worry, awareness, and preparedness), identifies notable differences across cities in Texas, and demonstrates a positive (and statistically significant) relationship between social capital and risk perception of heat. Our results suggest that a hyper-local climate adaptation policy approach focused on relationship building may advance adaptation efforts in an increasingly warmer world.