Table 1 Question wording and summary statistics for the situation-specific variables investigated in the analysis, grouped into concepts shown in Fig. 1

Evacuation intentions

How likely would you be to evacuate your home?^a

5.01

1.95

Likelihood of home affected

How likely is it that your home would be affected by this storm?^a

4.94

1.67

Severity at home

How severe would you say this storm is likely to be at your home?^a

5.10

1.54

Likelihood of getting hurt

Imagine YOU stay in your home during this storm. How likely do you think it is that YOU could get hurt by this storm?^a

4.31

1.79

Please indicate whether or not you think each of the following hazards are a threat to your home from this storm:

Strong winds at home?

… Strong winds^b

89.8%

Storm surge flooding at home?

… Flooding due to storm surge^b

43.5%

Rain flooding at home?

… Flooding due to heavy rain^b

53.0%

After receiving this message, to what extent do you feel each of the emotions below?

Worry

… Worried^a

4.97

1.76

Fear

… Fearful^a

4.48

1.88

Self-efficacy

How likely is it that you would be able to do what is needed to evacuate from your home?^a

5.81

1.38

Response efficacy

How likely is it that evacuating from your home would be effective to reduce harm to yourself and your family?^a

5.19

1.83

Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements:

Information is overblown

… This information about the storm is overblown^c

3.26

1.68

Information is misleading

… This information about the storm is misleading^c

2.73

1.57