Journal article
Disaster communication and preparedness among middle-aged and older Latino migrants and seasonal farmworkers in western Oregon
Journal of communication in healthcare, p1
05 Jun 2025
PMID: 40472182
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Effective communication is essential for emergency preparedness, public health, and wildfire recovery. However, existing emergency communication is often tailored for individuals proficient in English, leading to the marginalization of middle-aged and older Latino migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) who lack English proficiency. This study explored the perceptions, communication, and coping strategies of MSFWs in Southern Oregon during the 2020 wildfire disaster, addressing a significant gap in disaster communication research.
We conducted seven in-depth interviews with key informants and one MSFW focus group ( = 11). Key informants included local health and service providers, teachers, and activists. Thematic analyses were used to analyze the data.
The sample's perceptions of the disaster revealed fear, sadness, uncertainty, loss, and stress before, during, and after the fires. Most strikingly, the research highlighted the stark absence of coordinated public disaster communication tailored to this population. Communication relied on informal channels such as word of mouth, visible signs, and cell phone usage. Post-disaster narrations emphasized community resilience in recovery efforts and more public service involvement in the health and wellness of the respondents.
These results communicate the dire lack of structured disaster communication for the respondents and their immediate community. Timely group-appropriate communication is a basic need for equitable preparedness for inevitable natural disasters for the respondents. Disaster communication interventions should leverage community-based organizations to enhance mass communication through community-identified media such as cell phones and community conversations. Such communication must use the population's native language or Spanish at a minimum.
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Details
- Title
- Disaster communication and preparedness among middle-aged and older Latino migrants and seasonal farmworkers in western Oregon
- Creators
- James R Muruthi - Drexel UniversitySabrina Raqueno-Angel - Independent AuthorYang Di - University of PennsylvaniaBertranna A Muruthi - Drexel UniversityAmanda S McRell - University of South CarolinaHeather H McClure - University of Oregon
- Publication Details
- Journal of communication in healthcare, p1
- Publisher
- TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- University of Oregon Science Communication Research Small Grant Program
The research presented in this paper was supported by the University of Oregon Science Communication Research Small Grant Program.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Drexel FIRST (Center for Firefighter Injury Research and Safety Trends); Counseling and Family Therapy; Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001503028500001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105007527342
- Other Identifier
- 991022055240104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Communication
- Health Policy & Services