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<br />23 <br /> <br />Comparison of Findings <br />Certain findings from previous research can be compared with those <br />of this study. The hypothesis, tested by Demerath (1957), Fogelman (1958), <br />Fritz (1961), Moore, et al. (1963) and Anderson (1969), that persons with <br />recent di saster experi ence are more 1 i ke ly to take protecti ve acti on on <br />the basis of warnings than those without recent disaster expeY"ience is <br />supported in a qualitative analysis by three cases in this study. <br />One family which survived the Rapid City flood in 1972 illmediately <br />heeded the first warn;ng they heard whi'le camping at the lower end of the <br />canyon. A second family noticed the river rising and, recalling their <br />knowledge of the flooding potential of the bayous -in Texas, headed for <br />higher ground. A family familiar wHh tornadoes received a warning and <br />followed the instructions of the sheriff's deputy without hesitation. <br />Friedsam (1962) found that older persons werE, less likely to receive <br />warnings than younger persons regardless of the warning source. However, <br />in the Big Thompson, groups of peop'le over 70 years old were just as likely <br />to have received a warning, as was found by Hutton (1976) in her study of <br />the 1972 Rapid City flood. Friedsam's (1962) find'ing that eldl~rly persons <br />were less likely to evacuate than young persons is supported. Of nine <br />groups of people over 70 years old, six took no action and three adopted <br />an action during the flood. In agreement with findings of Friedsam (1962) <br />and Trainer and Hutton (1972), one-fourth of those who died in the Big <br />Thompson flood were over 60 years o'ld, as was ment'ioned earlier. <br />The finding of Drabek (1969) that the number of warnings is directly <br />related to evacuation is confirmed by this analysis. In the contingency <br />table relating number of warnings and attempts at confirmation, those who <br />received one warning were more likely to seek conf'irmation than those who <br />received more than one warning; the second warning perhaps served as <br />confirmation of the threat. <br />