A survey of nearly 800 people affected by Hurricane Isaias found that 81% considered local broadcast station news assets the leading source of storm information, according to results released by TVB, a television advertising advocacy group.
The survey, conducted by Dynata after the storm, was the only hurricane to hit the U.S. East Coast in 2026. It struck the Florida Panhandle and parts of Alabama and Georgia. Of the 795 respondents, 55% reported losing electricity, 13% experienced flooding or property damage, and 9% were forced to evacuate.
During the storm, 64% of respondents turned to local broadcast television station news. That was followed by phone emergency alerts at 50%, network national news at 46%, social media at 44%, and local station news on a streaming service at 42%, according to the findings.
Local broadcast station news assets ranked as the most important source for making people aware of the hurricane before it hit, cited by 42% of respondents. During the storm, those assets led at 49%. Broken down further during the storm, local TV station news accounted for 33%, phone emergency alerts for 14%, network national news for 10%, and local news on streaming services for 8%.
After the storm, local broadcast TV station news led at 28%, ahead of social media at 13%, network national news at 10%, and phone emergency alerts at 9%.
The survey also found that 70% of respondents watched live local broadcast TV newscasts on a smartphone, computer, or tablet at some point during the emergency.
“The results of this survey underscored the value of trusted local broadcast news assets for updates before, during, and after a storm,” TVB said.
Local broadcast station news assets ranked as the most important source for making people aware of the hurricane before it hit, cited by 42% of respondents. During the storm, those assets led at 49%. Broken down further during the storm, local TV station news accounted for 33%, phone emergency alerts for 14%, network national news for 10%, and local news on streaming services for 8%.
After the storm, local broadcast TV station news led at 28%, ahead of social media at 13%, network national news at 10%, and phone emergency alerts at 9%.
The survey also found that 70% of respondents watched live local broadcast TV newscasts on a smartphone, computer, or tablet at some point during the emergency.
“The results of this survey underscored the value of trusted local broadcast news assets for updates before, during, and after a storm,” TVB said.