Testing the theory of planned behavior in predicting evacuation intentions during storms

The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) has been widely applied to predict human behavior across diverse domains; however, its application in disaster contexts remains limited. This study addresses this gap by examining the utility of TPB in predicting intentions to prepare evacuation plans in hurricane-prone areas. Using a quantitative approach, an online survey was administered to adults residing in Florida, yielding 816 valid responses. Attitude toward evacuation planning, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were measured using validated Likert-scale items. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation and binary logistic regression. Results indicate that all TPB constructs were significantly associated with evacuation planning intentions. Subjective norms emerged as the strongest predictor, highlighting the critical role of social influence in preparedness decisions. Attitude toward evacuation planning and perceived behavioral control also demonstrated significant positive effects, suggesting that favorable evaluations of evacuation planning and confidence in one’s ability to prepare increase preparedness intentions. The logistic regression model showed strong predictive power (Nagelkerke R ²  = 0.62). These findings support the applicability of TPB in disaster preparedness research and underscore the importance of integrating social norms, perceived behavioral control, and attitude-based interventions into emergency management strategies.