“I’d Probably Just Ride it Out”: Hurricane Plans and Decision Making Among Men Experiencing Homelessness in Central Florida

Abstract

Drawing on field interviews, this study examines hurricane plans among men experiencing homelessness in Central Florida. Specifically, we demonstrate how shelter policies contribute to homeless shelter aversion leading some participants’ to assert that they are better off riding out hurricanes alone in tents or makeshift shelters. Secondly, we examine how past experiences contribute to a sense of self-efficacy among participants, which may lead them to perceive tents and improvised shelters as providing adequate shelter. This article builds on Kusenbach’s research on hurricane plans among mobile home residents, arguing that socially marginalized populations assess risk and vulnerability based on experience and socio-cultural context.