Over 500 miles away from the nearest damage brought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, adults in St. Louis still heard false claims about the storms.
No, humans cannot create or steer hurricanes…
Among St. Louis adults surveyed, 32% heard in the last week that humans can create hurricanes, 29% heard that humans can control the direction of hurricanes, and 14% heard that people should not evacuate before a hurricane because FEMA will seize their property. All three claims have been proven false by scientists and FEMA.
…but some believe they can
The survey also was completed by adults in Omaha, NE. In St. Louis and Omaha, 29% said it’s “definitely true” or “seems like it could be true” that humans can create hurricanes; 16% said the same about humans steering hurricanes, as did 24% about FEMA seizing private property.
Are hurricanes getting stronger?
Most St. Louisans surveyed (70%) also heard in the last week that hurricanes are increasing in intensity; nearly all (96%) believed it was true. They’re right. Since the 1980s, the windspeed of hurricanes in the North Atlantic has increased. Warmer surface waters in the North Atlantic during the same period contribute to hurricanes’ intensity and wind speed.
Are communities helpless against strong storms?
Although only a small portion (11%) of St. Louis respondents reported hearing in the last week that “nothing can be done to protect communities from intense storms,” a large majority of them (77%) believed it was true. Actually, there are many things St. Louis can do to protect against damage from intense storms, flooding, and other natural disasters. Please share the assets below to help build emergency preparedness in St. Louis.
Survey information
This week’s report is based on a survey of 350 adult residents in St. Louis, MO (n = 155) and Omaha, NE (n = 89) conducted on October 12-14, 2024. Explore these data and more at iHeardSTL.
Download the graphics below to share about this topic.
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Storms happen, but St. Louis doesn’t have to be helpless. Stay informed, strengthen your community, and use the natural environment to your advantage.
#iHeardSTL #StLouisPreparedness #StormSafety #StaySafe #BePrepared
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Would you be ready if disaster strikes? Stay informed, make a plan.
#iHeardSTL #StLouisPreparedness #StormSafety #StaySafe #Ready
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