Public communication for disaster risk reduction

This document is the first in a series of special topics for consideration, as part of the Words into Action Guidelines on National Disaster Risk Assessment published by UNISDR. This section focuses on communication with the general public. It provides guidance on how government officials and other professionals can communicate with general audiences to reduce the risk of disasters. 

Advances in technology have improved scientific risk information dramatically in recent years. Yet this valuable information can too easily go to waste if it’s not effectively communicated to people who need it to make decisions. Effective communication helps technical experts develop and share data, it enables professional users to understand the data, and it influences how ordinary people take actions to reduce risk in their everyday lives. Communication is a process and should be considered throughout every stage of risk assessments.