Barriers and best practices for inclusive emergency alerts and warnings

Abstract

Recent disasters showed major gaps in emergency alerting––the process of sending emergency information to communities rapidly–where people with limited-English proficiency (LEP) and auditory or visual (AV) disabilities experience issues receiving alerts in their preferred language or formats. In this paper, we review academic literature, agency reports, and news articles to synthesize barriers and develop best practices for inclusive alerting. The barriers identified include: (1) lack of capacity from agencies distributing alerts and warnings; (2) delay or lack of information in multiple languages; (3) channels used to distribute information are often inaccessible; (4) inaccurate translations; (5) lack of trust in government authorities; and (6) communities’ lack of familiarity with U.S.-based hazards and various cultural beliefs. Despite the barriers, the literature also identifies a series of recommendations that can be summarized into six best practices: alerting authorities should (1) participate in regular training in cultural competency and how to communicate with diverse audiences; (2) actively involve diverse community partners in the process of alert dissemination; (3) distribute alerts via multiple channels; (4) avoid jargon, use plain language, and translate the meaning of alerts; (5) disseminate alerts via well-informed, trusted sources and incorporate participation of diverse populations and communities; (6) and tailor communication to diverse populations and communities by developing language access plans. We present actionable recommendations and considerations for alerting authorities. We anticipate that alerting authorities, researchers, and decision makers can use these findings to improve inclusivity of alerts and warnings for all communities.