Language matters for disaster warnings, and this community did not get useful flood alerts
In South Africa, disaster warnings are routinely sent via SMS, radio, and social media, primarily in English and Afrikaans, despite the country having 12 official languages. Researchers found that municipal disaster management centres do not verify whether recipients understand the messages, leading to situations where warnings are sent but not comprehended. A study focused on the Walmer Airport V
In an age of instant communication, smartphones buzz, sirens sound, and alerts flash across screens. Yet for millions who speak minority or Indigenous languages, the message often stops short. South Africa has 12 official languages, but disaster warnings are still sent out almost entirely in English and Afrikaans. Emergency SMS alerts, radio broadcasts, and social media posts are issued regularly. The municipal disaster management centres sending the messages do not check whether the people receiving them understand what they say. A warning that is sent is not necessarily a warning that is understood. According to infrastructurenews.co.za, researchers wanted to understand whether people in an informal settlement in South Africa had received early warnings of disaster and how readable and understandable these messages were. The Walmer Airport Valley informal settlement is in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, according to theconversation.com.
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