Complexities in Communication and Collaboration in the Hurricane Warning System

Kathryn E. Anthony, Kelley R. Cowden-Hodgson, H. Dan O'Hair, Robert L. Heath, Gina M. Eosco

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the Texas hurricane warning system by understanding the communicative experiences of the warning-system boundary spanners, including National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters, emergency managers, and broadcast meteorologists. In-depth interviews lasting between 90 minutes and 120 minutes were conducted with 10 key actors and boundary spanners in the hurricane warning system. Constant comparison was employed to code and analyze the data. Our study revealed that communication and collaboration efforts were strained as the actors experienced tensions pursuing seemingly incompatible goals. The prominent tensions that emerged from interviews included the timeliness of information dissemination versus information accuracy and the access to information versus concerns of information attribution.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)468-483
Number of pages16
JournalCommunication Studies
Volume65
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 7 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, Central States Communication Association.

Keywords

  • Boundary Spanners
  • Emergency Management Communication
  • Hurricane
  • Risk And Crisis Communication

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Communication

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