AbstractThe number and severity of extreme weather events have been increasing globally. Given the vulnerabilities of second homes to natural disasters, it is important to learn how their owners consider the related risks. This paper investigates the extreme weather‐event risk perceptions and their preconditions between second‐home owners and local people in the Little Beskid mountains in Poland. The results show that, despite significant differences in social, demographic and presence–absence terms, the two populations were very similar with respect to risk perception. It then lays the ground for community preparedness and successful recovery from extreme weather hazards.