Response 1: Effective risk and warning communication during natural hazards

Summary

The video script discusses the critical role of emergency warnings in disaster management, highlighting research funded by the Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC. Researchers from Queensland University of Technology investigate warning formation and impact, aiming to enhance public response. The findings inform disaster management coordinators like Cathy Buck, emphasizing clear, consistent, and behavior-driven messaging. The script showcases practical applications of the research in improving emergency communication strategies, including the use of visuals and templates for effective warnings.

Takeaways

• 🚨 Multiple flood evacuation orders and an emergency warning for a bushfire are in place, highlighting the need for communities to be aware of their risks and prepare accordingly.
• 🌟 Warnings play a crucial role in emergency management, with significant improvements in policy and practice over the past decade in Australia.
• 🔬 Researchers from Queensland University of Technology, funded by the Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC, are studying the formation and impact of warnings to improve their effectiveness.
• 👩‍🔬 Cathy Buck, disaster management coordinator at Sunshine Coast Council, emphasizes the importance of engaging with the community before an event to ensure they are informed and prepared.
• 🧠 Professor Vivienne Tippett's interdisciplinary team focuses on understanding how people make decisions under pressure and what type of messaging triggers effective responses.
• 🔍 The research examines how different messaging strategies, including language, structure, and visuals, influence people's actions during emergencies.
• 📊 The findings are used to create practical guidelines and templates for emergency managers, improving the consistency and clarity of public warnings.
• 🚒 Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) have integrated the research into their warnings protocols, using clear headers and dot points to make information easier to digest.
• 📱 The new Australian Warning System aims to provide consistent warnings for various hazards, including bushfire, flood, storm, cyclone, and extreme heat.
• 💡 Cathy plans to apply the insights from the research to her organization's communication strategies, ensuring messages are clear and actionable, both internally and externally.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of flood evacuation orders and emergency warnings?

The primary purpose of flood evacuation orders and emergency warnings is to alert communities of impending natural disasters, enabling them to take necessary action to protect lives and property.

Why is it recommended to shelter in place when it's too late to leave during a bushfire?

Sheltering in place is recommended when it's too late to leave a bushfire area because attempting to evacuate at that point can be more dangerous, and staying in a well-prepared and safe location might offer better protection.

What is the role of the State Emergency Service in disaster management?

The State Emergency Service plays a critical role in disaster management by issuing warnings, providing advice, and coordinating community responses to ensure people are aware of their risks and prepared accordingly.

How have recent emergencies in Australia influenced the evolution of warning policies and practices?

Recent emergencies in Australia have highlighted the importance of effective warnings in saving lives. This has led to a transformative evolution in policy and practice, with a focus on understanding why some warning strategies are more successful than others.

What is the significance of the research conducted by the Queensland University of Technology researchers?

The research conducted by the Queensland University of Technology is significant as it investigates the formation and impact of warnings. It aims to understand how to make warning messages more effective in prompting the desired behavioral response during emergencies.

What challenges does Cathy Buck face as a disaster management coordinator?

Cathy Buck, as a disaster management coordinator, faces the challenge of coordinating all emergency agencies and the council, engaging with the community to provide timely warnings and advice, and ensuring that the community is well-informed and prepared for disasters.

What prompted Professor Vivienne Tippett to start researching warning messages?

Professor Vivienne Tippett started researching warning messages due to frustrations associated with people not following official messaging, particularly regarding driving in flood waters. She aimed to understand why people don't act as expected when receiving official warnings.

How does the research team led by Professor Tippett approach the study of warning messages?

The research team, led by Professor Tippett, approaches the study of warning messages by combining expertise in marketing research, crisis communication, and psychology. They aim to identify the best triggers for behavioral responses, considering changes in decision-making under stress.

What are some of the key findings from the research on warning messages?

Key findings from the research include the importance of leading with behavioral actions in messages, using clear and consistent language, avoiding technical jargon, and utilizing visuals to enhance understanding and offset misperceptions.

How have the recommendations from the QUT research team been implemented in practical guidelines and templates?

The recommendations from the QUT research team have been used to create practical guidelines and templates for emergency managers, such as hazard notes, the Public Information and Warnings Handbook, and the Australian Warning System, which provide a national approach to information and warnings for various hazards.

What changes has the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services made based on the research findings?

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has integrated the research findings into its warnings protocols, focusing on effective communication principles, using clear headers, dot points in warnings for better digestibility, and considering the role of different agencies in issuing warnings for various hazards.

How does Cathy plan to apply the learnings from her experiences with the researchers and state agencies?

Cathy plans to apply the learnings by sharing the insights with her immediate team and working with the media and communications branch to improve their own messaging. She aims to ensure that they are giving the correct message and using effective communication strategies learned during her time with the researchers and state agencies.