Systemic Vulnerabilities in Hispanic and Latinx Immigrant Communities Led to the Reliance on an Informal Warning System in the December 10–11, 2021, Tornado Outbreak

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21738425
AutoresJoseph E Trujillo-Falcón (0000-0003-2399-5234, NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory), América R Gaviria Pabón (Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies), Justin Reedy (0000-0002-7581-8558, University of Oklahoma), Kimberly E Klockow-Mcclain (0000-0002-3859-4831, NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory)
Año2024
Volumen25
Número2
Fecha de publicación2024-05-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaNatural Hazards Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1527-6988 • E-ISSN: 1527-6996
EditorialAmerican Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1061/nhrefo.nheng-1755
OpenAlexW4390291264
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7
Referencias citadas32

On December 10–11, 2021, the deadliest December tornado outbreak on record produced a family of EF4 tornadoes that severely impacted communities in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. Although the National Weather Service anticipated the outbreak three days earlier, not all communities received life-saving information before, during, or after the disaster. To examine systemic vulnerabilities experienced by Hispanic and Latinx immigrant populations, our team conducted a week-long field study in areas directly impacted by significant tornadoes. Connecting with local organizations, we interviewed 25 immigrants and community leaders in Arkansas and Kentucky. Social and systemic vulnerabilities, such as English proficiency, immigration status, and varying cultures of disaster preparedness, are examined as potential blockades to inclusive disaster response. Themes are contextualized into Mileti and Sorensen’s warning response model. Findings indicate that US Hispanic and Latinx immigrants relied mainly on unofficial sources that had no expertise in severe weather forecasting and communication, prolonging their time to effectively respond to tornadoes and take proper protective actions. We conclude with practical recommendations for developing a multilingual emergency alert system that integrates community leaders and underserved groups

Economic growth · Geography · Immigration · Meteorology · Outbreak · Political science · Preparedness · Tornado · Disaster Management and Resilience · Law · Medicine · Public Relations and Crisis Communication · Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research