Social Science Seminar Series: Preparing for the Hurricane: Knowledge and Use of national Hurricane Center Products

Posted on: January 14, 2021

Download Flyer

Center Social Science Seminar Series

Dr. Tania Lopez, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez -UPRM

Thursday, March 11, 2021

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET

Event Link :  https://bit.ly/3e8updo

Video courtesy of NOAA CESSRST via Zoom.

Abstract

The National Hurricane Center publishes a variety of products with the purpose of assisting the population in preparing for the potential arrival of tropical cyclones. In this seminar, Tania López Marrero presents the results of exploratory research about peoples’ knowledge and use of NHC graphical advisory products (Track Forecast Cone Map, Cyclone Surface Wind Speed Probabilities, Arrival Time of Tropical-Storm-Force Winds, among others). The results are based on semi-structured interviews with residents of Puerto Rico of different age groups regarding cyclone preparedness in general terms, and in the case of hurricane María more specifically. Ms. Marrero stresses the importance of exploring topics of cyclone preparedness and risk communication from a social perspective. She also argues that it is important to tackle different factors influencing preparedness, beyond just knowledge and communication.

Author:

Dr. Tania López Marrero is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Sciences at the Universityof Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. She has a Ph.D. in Geography from the Pennsylvania State University.She studies a variety of topics regarding human-environment interactions, including natural hazardsand disasters, ecosystems services, and drivers of ecosystem change and land use/land cover change.