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Abstract
High-risk, low-frequency events like hurricanes and storm surges often feel intangible to individuals, leading to optimism bias. Survivors frequently report feelings of grief after losing possessions to natural disasters. Although such experiences can increase attachment to belongings and a desire to protect them in the future, many people struggle to fully comprehend the true risk of storm surges without firsthand experience. Research shows that virtual reality (VR) technology can make these risks more tangible by immersing users in realistic simulations of disasters and the aftermath, such as hurricanes and storm surge events. It also allows users to actively practice risk prevention strategies, helping them prepare for future disasters. VR features enable users to customize a virtual space to their personal taste, tailoring the experience to each individual. This interaction with virtual objects can foster psychological ownership over the space, potentially simulating the emotional impact of losing personal possessions and prompting responses similar to those of natural disaster survivors. Building on prior research, this dissertation examines how allowing users to customize a virtual coastal home cultivates psychological ownership, and how that ownership influences their psychophysiological processing of storm surge risk, emotional responses, risk and efficacy perceptions, and behavioral intentions. Guided by foundational risk communication frameworks, this work illustrates the potential of VR to enhance storm surge risk communication by providing users with a safe, customized, and immersive experience.