Identifying information voids during weather-related disasters: case studies from the 2024 Europe floods and Florida’s hurricane helene

This article examines information voids during weather-related disasters, focusing on the 2024 Europe floods and Hurricane Helene in Florida. It conceptualizes and tests a survey tool to identify gaps in disaster information across four dimensions: quantity, quality, source and channel. The study draws on online surveys with 897 respondents in Belgium, Germany, Poland and the United States following major climate emergencies.

It concludes that information voids can be measured rapidly and used to improve disaster communication during emergencies. The tool detected information gaps across all four dimensions in the case studies, suggesting that it can help authorities identify unmet public information needs before misinformation and disinformation spread. The article highlights the importance of actionable evidence for strengthening flood risk communication, climate emergency response and public trust.