About half of surveyed southeastern U.S. adults were confident they could receive overnight flash flood (47.8%) and tornado (51.5%) warnings, and greater confidence was associated with greater warning source reliance, having a nighttime household emergency plan, higher nocturnal hazard risk perception, and greater trust in weather information.
Only about half of respondents were confident they could receive overnight flash flood and tornado warnings.
Many respondents were uncertain about their ability to receive overnight warnings.
Greater reliance on warning sources was associated with greater confidence in receiving overnight warnings.
Having a nighttime household emergency plan was associated with greater confidence in receiving overnight warnings.
Higher perception of nocturnal hazard risk was associated with greater confidence in receiving overnight warnings.
Greater trust in weather information was associated with greater confidence in receiving overnight warnings.
Mobile home residents reported lower confidence in receiving overnight tornado warnings than residents of other housing types.
Flash floods and tornadoes can strike with little warning, and when they happen overnight, people who are asleep may miss alerts, raising the risk of injury or death. This study surveyed 1,008 adults in 12 southeastern U.S. states about how confident they were that they would receive flash flood and tornado warnings between midnight and 6:00 AM. About half were confident: 47.8% for flash flood warnings and 51.5% for tornado warnings. Many others were unsure. People were more confident if they relied on more warning sources, had a household emergency plan for nighttime, saw nighttime hazards as a real risk, and trusted weather information. Mobile home residents were less confident about getting overnight tornado warnings than people in other types of housing. This research suggests that many people in tornado- and flood-prone areas may not be sure that overnight warnings will reach them. The authors propose that wider access to multiple warning sources that can wake people, better nighttime household planning, and greater awareness of nighttime hazards may help improve overnight warning reception and protective action. Because this was a survey of confidence at one point in time, it shows associations rather than proving that these factors cause greater confidence or better outcomes.
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Upload Your LabsFirst J, Ellis K, Houston J. (2026). While You Were Sleeping: Public Confidence in Rapid-Onset Hazard Warning Reception During Overnight Hours.. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2026.10467