Keeping pace with evolving communication needs for Alaska earthquakes and tsunamis

The Alaska Earthquake Center exists to advance the state's resilience to earthquakes and tsunamis through monitoring, research, and public engagement. The way we communicate hazards before, during and after an event ultimately determines public perception of hazards.

Because Alaska is a region of extremes, we must employ a multifaceted approach in our communications. In many areas of Alaska, a significant tectonic or tsunamigenic event (either local or distant) could disrupt communication during and/or immediately after the event. Emergency managers and local officials rely heavily on having accurate hazard information on which to base emergency plans. Tsunami inundation and pedestrian evacuation time mapping are integral parts of developing plans. During and immediately following significant events, timely and definitive information is critical to remaining a trusted source and combating false information. Following a significant event, disseminating evolving content and soliciting feedback from the public continues for weeks to months. The addition of social media and our revamped website over the last few years have dramatically increased our ability to provide information faster and in greater detail. Internally, we have placed considerable emphasis on generating robust public-friendly content more efficiently. This combined with our more traditional public engagement efforts, including public lectures, community events, and print materials, allows us to connect with a broader audience than ever before.

In this presentation we will discuss the motivations behind the specific methods we employ and best practices relating to our audiences. We will provide our self-evaluation of the various methods including our successes and struggles, as well as lessons learned in the context of recent significant events including the magnitude 7.9 Offshore Kodiak earthquake in January 2018.