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Crisis preparation, media use, and information seeking: Patterns across Katrina evacuees and lessons learned for crisis communication

Patric R. Spence, PhD, Kenneth A. Lachlan, PhD, Jennifer A. Burke, PhD

Abstract


This study examined crisis preparation, information seeking patterns, and media use in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Surveys were collected from 964 Katrina evacuees. Results indicated a continued need to create messages encouraging crisis preparation, especially among at-risk subpopulations. Differences in information seeking behavior were detected across age, income, and sex, while new media proved to be a nonfactor. The findings are discussed in terms of pragmatic implications for crisis communication practitioners regarding message design and placement.

Keywords


Hurricane Katrina, crisis communication, risk, information seeking

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2008.0009

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