4. Content of Risk Communication

Disaster risk communication is very important because we need to motivate people to take preventive actions or preparedness against disasters.

Risk communication aims to inform and motivate individuals about potential dangers. It emphasizes the importance of preparedness, such as evacuations or using flood-resistant materials, to protect oneself from future disasters. By understanding the risks, people can take necessary actions to ensure their safety.

Think of risk communication like a teacher preparing students for a big exam. The teacher shares study tips and important topics to cover, motivating students to prepare effectively. Similarly, risk communication provides essential information to help individuals prepare for disasters.

There should be one sender like local government. They want you to evacuate and so there is first in the disaster risk communications, we need one sender okay and what they do, they send message informations okay about the risk and what can be done to people.

Effective risk communication involves at least two parties: the sender (e.g., local government) and the receiver (the public). The sender conveys important information regarding risks and actions that should be taken. This exchange is crucial for ensuring the public understands the dangers they face and how to respond.

Imagine a coach instructing a team about a strategy to win a game. The coach (sender) communicates the game plan to the players (receivers). The success of this strategy depends on the players understanding and executing the plan effectively, just as public safety relies on effective communication of risks.

In risk communication, they are not interested about your hairstyle, about your travel plan or about your day-to-day life. In risk communication, in disaster risk communications, we are directly or indirectly talking about some particular hazards and risk.

The content of the messages exchanged in risk communication focuses specifically on hazards and risks associated with disasters, rather than casual topics. This means that the information shared must pertain to the imminent threats and the necessary precautions that should be taken to mitigate those threats.

Consider a weather alert for an approaching hurricane. The information provided focuses on evacuation routes and safety measures instead of irrelevant topics like local events. Just like at a sports game where the commentary focuses solely on the plays and strategies, risk communication hones in on what truly matters: safety.

When the senders passing the information, passing the information to the receivers, there is a motive. The motive is the sender wants to change the mind of receiver, change perception and change behaviour.

The primary aim of risk communication is not just to share information, but to influence the receiver's thoughts and actions. Through effective communication, senders hope to alter the public's perception of risks and encourage them to adopt safer behaviors, such as evacuation during emergencies.

Think of advertisements for seatbelt use. The objective is to change people's behavior by highlighting the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt. Similarly, risk communication seeks to change public attitudes toward disaster preparedness and response.

Purposeful exchange of informations are very different from the noise. In that case, a receiver or the informer they intend to expose the target audience that is a receiver to a system of meaningful symptoms.

Risk communication is characterized by its intentional and meaningful exchange of information, contrasting sharply with irrelevant communication (or 'noise'). This means that every piece of information shared is designed to have an impact, guide the audience, and change behaviors related to risk.

Imagine a doctor explaining a treatment plan to a patient versus someone randomly sharing health tips—one is focused and intentional, while the other may just be clutter. Risk communication functions like effective medical advice, aiming to provide clarity and understanding of specific risks.

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