Weather-related deaths are often preventable if individuals pay attention to warnings and local advice. However, studies indicate that the language used in these warnings can obscure essential information and confuse the public. Researchers like Jeannette Sutton are advocating for simpler, clearer messaging regarding alerts for various emergencies, such as heat waves and hurricanes. This is especially important as misunderstanding terminology can hinder timely responses, potentially resulting in fatalities. Efforts are now focusing on improving public comprehension of these alerts to enhance safety during severe weather conditions.
Those who are really familiar with different kinds of hazards or different kinds of events, it's natural for them to use this scientific language or operational language, but it's not as meaningful to the public as it is to the experts.
The language the media uses around severe weather can also directly impact how people respond to alerts. Those word choices can mean the difference between life and death when it comes to taking action during a crisis.
There's even a difference between an alert and warning, right? And sometimes this is confusing where we have alerts, we have warnings, we have advisories.
The agency plans to transition away from 'advisory' in favor of plainer language.
Collection
[
|
...
]