Storm preppers: A look how North Carolinians prepare for hurricanes and other extreme weather

Dean-Paul Stephens, The Courier-Tribune

As the remnants of Hurricane Ian passed through the state, a study from High Point University identified the correlations between climate and North Carolinians' storm-related habits.

The study compiles poll data collected in August, near the start of hurricane season.

The poll is one of several conducted by the school's Survey Research Center. It's one of the dozens of polls and studies that date back to 2010. The polls gauge everything from presidential preferences to consumer habits.

This poll is one of the few dealing with behaviors stemming from weather and could contribute to a broader climate-related behavioral study.

"The most recent HPU Poll was fielded by the High Point University Survey Research Center on Aug. 18 through Aug. 25, 2022, as an online survey," reads information about the study.

It determined that a majority of North Carolinians are concerned about the impact extreme weather, with an emphasis on hurricanes, will have on the state.

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"The poll found that a majority (61%) of North Carolinians were either very concerned (21%) or somewhat concerned (40%) that North Carolina would be struck by one or more hurricanes before the end of this year," a description of the study reads. "Smaller percentages of people said they were not very (26%) or not at all (8%) concerned about hurricanes hitting North Carolina this year."

High Point's study comes weeks after Gannett's collaborative reports on the shadow of climate change over the country's eastern region. The study details a growing interest in climate change, particularly among coastal states.

In Randolph County residents may stay abreast of emergency situations with their REACT System.

"Get alerted about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for REACT," reads information from Randolph County's website. "This system enables us to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods."

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The poll also looks at pre-storm spending among North Carolinians. Water, bread, toilet paper, gasoline, and milk are among the top five items North Carolinians buy in the hours prior to a storm's arrival.

  • Water - 82%

  • Bread - 75%

  • Toilet Paper - 74%

  • Gas - 73%

  • Milk - 56%

  • Fruit - 51%

  • Plywood - 32%

  • Alcohol - 28%

Some of the above trends do not coincide with Randolph County's suggestions for preparing for a storm.

"You will need food that will not spoil or go bad if it is not kept cold," Randolph County officials suggest. "Have several days worth of canned foods on hand that could be eaten without heating if need be. Keep some foods that will keep for several days without heat or cold."

The county also suggests foods like peanut butter, crackers, fruit, and cereal are also good to have on hand.

"Food in your refrigerator and freezer will keep for a while depending on many factors," suggests county officials. "Keep the door closed as much as possible. Remember that you can cook on an outdoor grill if the weather is safe but you must do it outdoors."

The county does agree with findings from High Point's study about the importance of having drinkable water.

"You need clean safe water to drink," according to county officials. "Store 1 gallon per day for each person in your home for drinking and cooking. Experts say it is best to plan for three days."

This article originally appeared on The Courier-Tribune: High Point University looks at hurricane trends in North Carolina

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