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Let's have a chat about closing the communication loop. I'm talking about the message that tells the public the situation is "all clear" and they can end the actions you recommended. In the warning research space, we've taken to call these "post-alert messages" because sometimes that second message may not be able to state conclusively that the area is safe, but it can provide an update on an investigation, a situation, or an environment and tell people how to go about thei

Photo by Cory Lum, AP Photo by Cory Lum, AP Post-alert messaging is getting a lot of my attention these days. For those unfamiliar with the term "post-alert message," these are the equivalent of "all clear" messages. But instead of simply saying "all clear" or "orders lifted", a post-alert message is written in plain language with a focus on communicating safety. We started thinking about the importance of these messages when we noticed how they are filled with jargon tha

Summer fun at a state fair can get dangerous quickly when bad weather enters the area. In today's example, we see a series of messages; one issued to prevent injury and the second to return fair-goers to their fun at the midway. In early September, the Evergreen State Fair issued a geo-targeted warning to persons within the fairgrounds, alerting them to "go indoors now" and to "SHELTER IN PLACE until further notice." Lightning had been detected within 10 miles of the fairgr

All clear messages are an important part of the communication lifecycle for alerts and warnings. When an alert is issued, it opens up a "conversation" by telling people about a hazard, its impacts, the location of the impact, and what people should do to protect themselves. Ideally, if a person is at risk, they will engage in protective action and remain safe until they are instructed to do otherwise. This can come as an additional notification as the event is ongoing, or

Determining how to get a message to an evacuated population is a challenge; issuing a complete message can help to reduce message confusion.

What is the significance of an "all clear" message? When is it right to send one? And what should it say?