Communication failures may endanger lives in an emergency
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Professor of Risk Sociology at University of Tartu
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Junior Researcher of Crisis Sociology at University of Tartu
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Associate Professor of Communication Studies at University of Tartu
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Head of the Southern Rescue Centre of the Estonian Rescue Board
In times of crisis, miscommunication can be fatal. Authors demonstrate that failures in risk and emergency communication—whether due to language barriers, digital exclusion, or the spread of disinformation—can amplify social vulnerability and obstruct life-saving responses.
Through a crisis simulation in Estonia, the authors identified how institutional blind spots, infrastructural breakdowns, and unaddressed community needs prevent critical information from reaching at-risk individuals. Vulnerability is dynamic, and even well-functioning systems falter without inclusive communication strategies. The authors argue for institutional self-assessment, scenario-based preparedness exercises, multilingual outreach, and sustained trust-building between authorities and communities. When communication falters, resilience collapses. Prevention begins with understanding not just the message, but who can hear—and act on—it.