Read. Understand. Apply.

Required Weekly Test IPAWS users are required to regularly test their user proficiency by sending an alert that is issued to users who have opted in to receive them. This is also a great opportunity to demonstrate the type of test message that could be issued during a live test in a community - one that is announced ahead of time, organized with community members, and publicized by the media. These live tests have the added benefit, if done correctly, of growing system awar

When we first began to study public responses to Wireless Emergency Alerts in 2012, we immediately saw significant issues with alerts that were limited to 90-characters. Study participants indicated that these messages could not contain enough information to act upon, so instead of leading them to protect themselves, it led to them to search for more information ( see Bean et al. 2016 ). Information search to confirm the message is trustworthy and requires action is commonl

Much of the time that I have written about language inconsistency and the use of jargon in messages, it has been focused on WILDFIRE.  Many previous posts to the Warning Gallery have pointed to the use of operational and technical language (Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 or Ready status, Set status, Go status) that has more meaning to responders and commanders than to the public.  In fact, we’ve published about the use of inconsistent language in the National Fire Protection A

(WEA sent 4/23/23) The editor's desk draws from research to suggest improvements to the hazard impact statement and to specify the...