Complexities in Communication and Collaboration in the Hurricane Warning System

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.

Keywords:

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

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kathryn E. Anthony

Kathryn E. Anthony is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Kelley R. Cowden-Hodgson

Kelley R. Cowden-Hodgson is a Doctoral Candidate and Instructor in the Division of Instructional Communication Research at The University of Kentucky.

H. Dan O'Hair

H. Dan O'Hair is Dean of the College of Communication and Information at The University of Kentucky.

Robert L. Heath

Robert L. Heath is a Professor Emeritus in the Jack K. Valenti School of Communication at The University of Houston.

Gina M. Eosco

Gina M. Eosco is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Communication at Cornell University.