Wind forecast and prior community experience are associated with high preparedness for sequential tropical cyclones in the United States

Sequential tropical cyclone events, in which two tropical cyclones make landfall in the same region within a short time, are becoming increasingly likely. Here we investigate community preparedness for six sequential tropical cyclone events in the United States from 2020 to 2024. We adopt spatial regression models and use human mobility trends as a proxy for preparedness, integrating weather forecast information, hazards experience, infrastructure conditions, and socioeconomic factors. During sequential tropical cyclone events, communities show higher preparedness levels in response to stronger forecast winds, while this tendency declines during the second tropical cyclone compared with the first one. Power outage experience from the first tropical cyclone is associated with higher preparedness levels for the subsequent one. Communities with access and functional needs consistently show lower preparedness levels for sequential tropical cyclones. The results offer timely insights to inform community preparedness strategies under growing risks of sequential tropical cyclones. In the United States, communities prepare for strong forecasted winds, but this preparedness decreases for the second tropical cyclone compared to the first, according to data on mobility, climate, and power outages, as well as a statistical approach.