Risk Perception and Effective Communication of Consequences for US Natural Hazards

The type of natural hazard, frequency of occurrence, and their range of consequences have an enormous influence in shaping a person’s perceptions of risk. This research demonstrates that risk perception plays a large role in determining future mitigation decisions as well as behaviors of individuals and society. Integrating perception factors of dread and familiarity into risk communication has the potential for the development of improved mitigation plans to enhance resilience from natural hazard events. Utilizing a 50-year database of the United States, this paper identifies the consequences of the most significant natural hazards. Graphs and charts are used to convey this crucial information to stakeholders on a regional basis, enabling informed natural hazard policy decision-making. In addition, this research presents a new method of assessing natural hazard risk through the creation of ‘hazard region’ maps. This allows local and state governments to visualize natural hazards that result in the largest impact and helps prioritize efforts for reducing overall losses.