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Read. Understand. Apply.
The Warn Room blogs apply 70 years of research to the practice of alerts and warnings. We show how evidence-based changes to message content, style, and structure can create more effective warnings.


Update the order and visual design to improve message readability.
Message design is more than just the inclusion of contents, it also includes the ordering and the use of visual effects to capture...

Jeannette Sutton
Nov 17, 2023


Does sending a WEA reduce call volume?
Every once in a while, The Warn Room will see a WEA that appears to have been issued with the intent of reducing traffic to a local 911...

Jeannette Sutton
Nov 13, 2023


Message Content Order Can Affect Readability and Action
Wireless Emergency Alerts are typically sent during periods of imminent threat, where emotions are heightened and information seeking...

Jeannette Sutton
Nov 9, 2023


You're yelling again...
This use of ALL CAPS can sure make things difficult for message readers. The Editor took the liberty of making some changes to this WEA....

Jeannette Sutton
Sep 16, 2023


Message content order makes a difference for readability
WEA issued 9/5/2023 When we stumbled across this WEA on pbs.warn, the thing that popped out was the idea of an "over wall moving...

Jeannette Sutton
Sep 6, 2023


Write with Style that catches the EYE
One of the strategies to improve message readability is to use a mix of upper and lower case letters. This will naturally draw the...

Jeannette Sutton
Sep 2, 2023


**Evacuation Warning** but for flash flood
(click image to enlarge) WEA issued in advance of #Hilary for the CA desert The folks at the Editor's Desk have written a LOT about the...

Jeannette Sutton
Aug 27, 2023


A clear & concise public health advisory
Public health advisories frequently fall into the category of "WEA-ble" due to the potential for impact on community populations.

Jeannette Sutton
Aug 24, 2023


Include actionable instructions in an alert
A BOIL WATER notice can be confusing to many people leading to questions like: Why do we have to boil water? for how long? Will it really...

Jeannette Sutton
Aug 19, 2023


Including hazard impact information increases message understanding
Sometimes, threats and hazards may seem self-explanatory; other times, a hazard impact statement will help the receiver to understand why...

Jeannette Sutton
Aug 5, 2023


Making use of ALL CAPS
Of the many problems in public alert and warning messages, the habit of falling back upon "how things have always been done" or "what...

Jeannette Sutton
Jul 29, 2023


Edits to an incomplete message about a power outage
WEA issued on 7/20/2023 Sometimes a message will be issued that lacks so much context, we have to do some digging to figure out what it's...

Jeannette Sutton
Jul 22, 2023


Warning messages must include the hazard
WEA issued 7/10/2023 It's entirely possible that a local message recipient will know why they are advised to evacuate immediately. If...

Jeannette Sutton
Jul 12, 2023


Law Enforcement warning and all-clear
A series of messages about law enforcement activity. The Warning Gallery has many examples of incomplete warning messages that would...

Jeannette Sutton
Jun 10, 2023


An unfamiliar hazard and a local area emergency
At The Warn Room, we don't claim to be experts in all hazards, which is why adding hazard impact information to a message really helps...

Jeannette Sutton
May 13, 2023


ALL CAPS = SCREAMING
BOLO sent 4/21/23 WHEN YOU WANT TO GET ATTENTION, SOMETIMES IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO SCREAM. Sometimes, getting ATTENTION can be as simple as...

Jeannette Sutton
Apr 20, 2023


Complete messages with room for improvement
WEAs issued 3/22/23 These messages are complete and include stylistic choices to increase attention (use of ALL CAPS for GO and EVACUATE)...

Jeannette Sutton
Mar 22, 2023


Standardizing a flood warning
WEA issued 3/14/2023 Wireless Emergency Alerts for flood and some other severe weather events are officially the domain of the National...

Jeannette Sutton
Mar 14, 2023


Brushfire
To the left (click image to enlarge), we include the original 90-character WEA and a revised 272-character WEA. The first message on the...

Jeannette Sutton
Feb 19, 2023


Wildfire Alert
October 16, 2022; Clark County, WA ; #nakiafire (click image to enlarge) This complete WEA includes the source, hazard, hazard impacts,...

Jeannette Sutton
Oct 15, 2022
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