Virtual Library Presentation
September 13, 2000 - 12:00 Noon

South Carolina's Response to Hurricane Floyd

by

Kirstin Dow, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography, University of South Carolina

SUMMARY

EIIP Virtual Library Presentation
Wednesday - September 13, 2000 - 12:00 Noon EDT

Learning from the Hurricane Floyd Evacuation in South Carolina

Dr. Kirstin Dow
University of South Carolina

Avagene Moore
EIIP Coordinator

The September 13 Virtual Library discussion was based on a Natural Hazards Center Quick Response Report (QRR # 128) titled "South Carolina's Response to Hurricane Floyd," co-authored by Dr. Kirstin Dow and Dr. Susan Cutter.

Dr. Dow's presentation built on evacuation research done in 1998 with surveys of South Carolinians after Hurricane Floyd that prompted the largest evacuation ever experienced in the state. Formal remarks covered three primary issues:

1. Response to mandatory evacuation, including consideration of the potential "crying wolf" syndrome from previous storms;
2. Longitudinal data on response in Horry County; and
3. Traffic on the Interstate and non-use of alternate routes.

KIRSTIN DOW, Ph. D
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography, University of South Carolina

Kirstin Dow received her Ph.D. in Geography from Clark University in 1996. She is an Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of South Carolina, Associate faculty member of the USC Hazards Research Lab, and Chairperson of the Association of American Geographers Hazards Specialty Group. She has been involved in research on vulnerability to coastal storms since 1992.

Her work includes articles and chapters on hurricane evacuation, vulnerability to environmental changes and coastal storms, hazard perception, and coastal pollution. These research projects have been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Natural Hazard Research and Applications Information Center, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) among others. Currently, she is conducting research projects on how and why people use hurricane and climate forecasts in their planning and response to environmental threats.

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