Why do some people ignore severe weather warnings?

Question

Particularly *Flood/Flash Flood Warnings*, *Severe Thunderstorm/Tornado Warnings* and *Tropical Storm/Hurricane Warnings*.

When a *Warning* is issued for potentially dangerous weather conditions, why do some people choose to ignore them?  Do they doubt such weather will affect them?  Do they have a way to take action in the event of such weather?  Do they not believe it's really coming and believe the weather service is "crying wolf"?  Do they simply think: "It will never happen to me.  It always happens to somebody else"?

I've seen, time and time again when I watch The Weather Channel or other station that reports weather, that some people take their chances and ignore severe weather warnings...and THEN, they often get trapped in a life-or-death situation and must be rescued.  Some make it out alive and are lucky.  Others are not so lucky.

Then, there are those people that drive through flooded roads during *Flood/Flash Flood Warnings*.  They are the worst when I see them do that on TV, especially when meteorologists warn people NOT to do that since the depth of the water can be deceiving.  The road could be washed out and it doesn't take much water to cause a vehicle to stall out and float away, leading to another life-or-death situation that requires rescue.

So, I ask again...why do some people ignore severe weather warnings?

Answer 1

Some people ignore the warnings because the media and the politicians in charge usually DO overstate the danger, generally giving potential worst-case scenarios.

The pols HAVE to do that, because if they don't, and the storm turns out to be worse than their warnings, they become subject to all kinds of criticism by VOTERS, and the pols can't have that.

Answer 2

Being in an area that gets 5-10 tornado warnings a year, I can say a lot has to do with the cry wolf syndrome.

When they issue a tornado warning, it's for the entire county, all 10,000 square miles.. Wherever a tornado hits, it's such a small area (1-2miles) that most people are not affected. when You become so used to hearing the warnings and they don't affect you, you begin to ignore them.. I've been through hundreds of warnings in my life, I still have never seen a tornado. 

Comments

Granted, but sometimes, the "wolf" actually comes when people least expect it.  Then, they get in trouble and need help.  People seem to forget the "better safe than sorry" routine.  I'd rather be warned and NOT get hit by something than to ignore such warnings and suddenly take a hit by it.  If I'm not hit by something, I'd be grateful it missed than think the weather service is "crying wolf", but that's just me.

Answer 3

I think that warnings should not be ignored, especially in exposed or vulnerable regions.

But instead of panicking, people should look into more information, and take the necessary, simple precautions, like abstaining from unnecessary risks and be prepared (and equipped) in case of immediate danger.

http://www.webbins.com/blog/hurricane-safety

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html

http://www.disastercenter.com/guide/thunder.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Protect-Yourself-in-a-Thunderstorm