Social network connections and increased preparation intentions for a disaster

The present research examined the role of social context—social network structure and composition—in people's intentions to prepare for a hurricane. We examined whether social network structure and composition would relate to hurricane threat responses. We randomly assigned 300 Florida resident homeowners to either a hypothetical Category 1 or 3 hurricane condition. Participants also provided information about 30 alters (other people) from their real-life social networks via an online interview, which yielded information on 130,500 total dyads (435 dyads per participant). People with more dense social networks and more emotionally close network compositions were more likely to prepare for a hurricane regardless of its severity. People with dense networks and people who perceived an evacuation norm in their network also reported being more likely to evacuate regardless of the severity. These results suggest that interventions that strengthen human connections may effectively increase people's preparedness. •Social network analysis shows differences in the structure and composition of people's social connections.•Network structure and composition relate to hurricane preparation intentions.•People with more dense and emotionally close networks were more likely to prepare for a hurricane.•Sensing that evacuation is more normative in one's network relates to higher evacuation likelihood.•Interventions that strengthen social connection may help increase preparedness for disasters.