Parental Preferences Associated with Tornadic Early Dismissal Decisions

Abstract With future scenarios indicating an uptick in the frequency of supercells in the southeastern United States, schools will likely see increased exposure to hazards like tornadoes. Understanding school severe weather decisions is vital to making more informed choices and preventing unnecessary risks to students, especially in an area with higher historical tornado fatality rates, substantial manufactured housing, and elevated social vulnerability. However, few studies have focused on weather-based early dismissals, and none have incorporated the caretaker’s perspective. Using an electronic survey, 500 parents across 10 tornado-prone states (i.e., Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas) were asked where they prefer their children to shelter for early dismissal situations in a hypothetical tornado. Most parents (∼75%) preferred their children to return home for a hypothetical morning and afternoon dismissal situation. Based on multinomial logistic regression models, preferences for sending students home or keeping them in schools were significantly influenced by their confidence in school personnel; perceptions of residential and school infrastructure enduring tornado-force winds, if parents were home during school hours, if individuals had an alternate sheltering location; and assessments of school severe weather communications. Significance Statement School leadership commonly employs early dismissals for hazards like tornadoes. However, they lack feedback from parents on where they prefer their children to shelter. Across multiple early dismissal scenarios, caretakers preferred their children to be sent home early rather than remain in school. Trust in school personnel keeping students safe and assurance in schools and residential structures enduring tornadoes significantly impacted parental preferences. To shift preferences for guardians in vulnerable housing and avoid placing students at greater risk, caretakers must critically evaluate their homes’ durability. Concurrently, schools should prioritize building and maintaining trust with students’ guardians. Future work will need to assess which areas in a district are suitable for early dismissals or sheltering in place.