Factors that influenced preferences regarding use of public and private tornado shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

Tornado risk perception and housing type were less important than the COVID-19 and infectious disease variables. When a hypothetical mask requirement was introduced, individuals with greater COVID-19-related fears showed a heightened inclination to use public storm shelters, suggesting masks influenced sheltering decisions while partially mitigating concerns about enclosed spaces. Residents of mobile homes exhibited stronger preferences for using storm shelters in group settings, underscoring their perceptions of vulnerability to tornadoes.

This research emphasizes the substantial role of COVID-19 risk perception in shaping public tornado shelter preferences during the early stages of the pandemic. It also highlights the importance of considering infectious disease risk perception in understanding sheltering behaviors, even outside of a pandemic context.