A new report into the deadly wildfires in Maui last year reveals a number of problems with emergency preparation and communication before and during the disaster, according to CNN. The wildfires killed 101 people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and left $6 billion in damages.
Robert Orttung is a research professor of international affairs at the George Washington University and the director of research at Sustainability GW. Orttung is leading two National Science Foundation grants focused on promoting urban sustainability in the Arctic and is serving as the editor of the forthcoming Sustaining Russia’s Arctic Cities.
Orttung has published research in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction regarding communications during wildfires. Orttung and his co-authors explore how fire communicators can best convey risk and crisis information to meet growing concerns about wildfire impacts among a diverse audience of residents.
“While there were many reasons for the difficulties addressing the fires in Hawaii, it is clear that effective communications are vital to ensuring that losses to life and property are kept to a minimum,” Orttung says.
If you would like to speak with Prof. Orttung, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Cate Douglass at [email protected].
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