Read. Understand. Apply.

An EBONY alert Recent research on effective Missing and Endangered Person (MEP) alerts has identified how to name the incident and how to structure a message to be most effective at helping message receivers to understand and respond to messages. When we consider MEP messages in relation to more general alerts and warnings, they follow the same structure as those warnings that are issued for all hazards. They should always contain the following CONTENTS: The name of the m

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

This is a long post that includes a LOT of WEAs (14 to be exact). Because I followed the December 5, 2024 tsunami event fairly closely,...

When we take a look at the most prevalent WEA messages, the #1 type, following those issued by the National Weather Service for...

One of the advantages of Wireless Emergency Alerts is their ability to alert people, without requiring them to opt in, and to do so in a...

A colleague sent this message to me, calling attention to the words "hazardous materials" and asking what might be a more plain language...

We like to highlight good messages and this Evacuation Order for flooding hits most of the marks. Issued by the Sonoma County Sheriff's...

From my perspective as a scholar who studies alerts and warnings, the thing about missing person alerts that really stands out is that...

What makes a good missing person message? Should it be the same content as an alert? Should it follow the structure of warning message?...

This message got a LOT of unwanted attention on October 7, 2024 after it was issued to the entire state of Texas at 4:53am. Reading...

For the past ten years, every time I have taught a class on crisis communication, I have asked my students to engage in an exercise where...

I love a simple message that uses plain language and is easy to read. But sometimes, the message is SO simple that it simply leaves out...

We've written about law enforcement messages in the past, showing how they can be "tricky" to write about because of the uncertainty of...

Law enforcement messaging is tricky. Do you include content about the nature of the law enforcement activity? Do you give details about...

Plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand, and use government communications. Its wording, structure, and design...

The December 2022 winter storm in New York affected more than just Erie County and the city of Buffalo. While Erie and Buffalo bore the...

In 2022, Erie County and the city of Buffalo experienced a catastrophic winter storm at the height of the Christmas holiday, resulting in...

We routinely see messages for roads that are closed using WEA. This is primarily within the states of Texas and Georgia and they are...

Messages delivered in ALL CAPS have a problem. Writing in ALL CAPS may seem like a reasonable strategy to get people's attention...

Wireless Emergency Alerts are designed to notify people of dangerous and imminent threats that require quick or immediate action. The...