Enhancing Warnings: Doing Better at Warning and Generating Action

Presenters

Dr Carina Fearnley, Director of the UCL Warning Research Centre. Claudia Fernandez De Cordoba Farini, Research Affiliate at the UCL Warning Research Centre

Abstract

Following the recent publication of the Enhancing Warnings report by the UCL Warning Research Centre, commissioned by the UK National Preparedness Commission, this session offers insights into how warnings can better support actions for effective behavioural preparedness and responses across a wide range of hazards, stakeholders and sectors. To enhance a warning requires placing it as part of a warning system, a long-term social process that embodies the 3 I’s ( Imagination, Initiative, Integration) and 3 E’s (Education, Exchange, Engagement). This seminar will discuss two key hazards to demonstrate how warning systems can be enhanced. First presenting recent research on how to improve warnings for pandemics by developing more interdisciplinary anticipatory warning systems for emerging infectious diseases. Second, highlighting lessons learned from the development and implementation of volcano alert level systems that provide a comprehensive series of best practice ‘lessons’. Three key recommendations are highlighted to enhance warnings: (a) Develop effective warnings that consider multiple-hazards, cascading events, and integration across stakeholders. (b) Adopt a public engagement and outreach programme that empowers people to identify and fulfil their own needs regarding warnings for enhancing preparedness and response behaviours and actions. (c) Create and support mechanisms to overcome silos and territorialism and instead encourage idea and action exchange for building trust and connections that support action when a major situation arises.

Time

4:00 p.m. (GMT+1)