Hurricane Attitudes of Coastal Connecticut Residents: A Segmentation Analysis

The report segments coastal Connecticut residents into five groups based on hurricane attitudes: the 'First Out', 'Constrained', 'Optimists', 'Reluctant', and 'Diehards'. It analyzes how risk perception, perceived barriers, and trust in authority influence evacuation decisions, noting that while local official orders are the most effective trigger for all groups, different segments require different interventions ranging from resource assistance to risk education.

• Coastal Connecticut residents are divided into five segments based on hurricane attitudes: the 'First Out' (21%), 'Constrained' (14%), 'Optimists' (16%), 'Reluctant' (27%), and 'Diehards' (22%).
• The 'First Out' group has the highest risk perception and evacuation rate, with 55% evacuating during Superstorm Sandy. Conversely, 'Diehards' have the lowest risk perception and are the least likely to leave, with only 6% evacuating during Superstorm Sandy due to beliefs in self-reliance and the need to protect property.
• The 'Constrained' segment understands hurricane risks but faces practical barriers to evacuation, such as lack of money, pets, or health and disability issues. 22% of this group evacuated during Superstorm Sandy.
• The 'Optimists' believe hurricanes are unlikely to occur in the next 50 years, making them the least prepared group and the most likely to perceive barriers like lack of know-how, money, or health issues.
• The 'Reluctant' group is less afraid of hurricanes than average and typically lives further from the coast, but they are likely to evacuate if ordered to do so by local authorities, such as the Governor's Office or local police and fire departments.
• Across all segments, evacuation orders from local officials (police, fire, or government workers) are more effective than announcements from weather broadcasters or other media sources.

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2015). Hurricane Attitudes of Coastal Connecticut Residents: A Segmentation Analysis. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/coastal-ct-hurricane-segments/

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Hurricane Attitudes of Coastal Connecticut Residents: A Segmentation Analysis. 2015. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/coastal-ct-hurricane-segments/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=Hurricane Attitudes of Coastal Connecticut Residents: A Segmentation Analysis |date=29 June 2015 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/coastal-ct-hurricane-segments/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2015hurricane, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Hurricane Attitudes of Coastal Connecticut Residents: A Segmentation Analysis}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2015}, month = jun, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/coastal-ct-hurricane-segments/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }