A Department of Homeland Security Emeritus Center of Excellence led by the University of Maryland

Risk Communication


Risk Communication

Project Title Investigators Project Period
Computational Modeling of Grievances and Political Instability Through Global Media Gary LaFree September, 2014 to September, 2019
How Forecasters Decide to Warn: Insights on Tornado Risk Communication from the Southeast U.S. Brooke Liu, Anita Atwell Seate September, 2017 to August, 2019
Mobile Radiation Detectors: Threat Perception and Device Acceptance Brooke Liu, Elizabet Petrun Sayers, Gary Ackerman, Steve Sin, Thomas Guarrieri April, 2014 to April, 2019
Managing Chaos through Crisis Communication Leadership Brooke Liu June, 2017 to May, 2018
Social Identity and Perceptions of Counterterrorism Demis Glasford July, 2012 to December, 2017
Towards an Understanding of Explosive Detection Technology Adoption: Results from Two Surveys Brooke Liu May, 2016 to June, 2017
School Emergency Public Information and Warning/Information Sharing Brooke Liu, Holly Roberts October, 2015 to September, 2016
Understanding Tornado Warnings, False Alarms, and Complacency, and Proposing Theory-Directed Solutions for Effective Warnings Michael Egnoto, Brooke Liu October, 2015 to September, 2016
Comprehensive Testing of Imminent Threat Public Messages for Mobile Devices (MDP) Brooke Liu, Hamilton Bean, Marcus A. Boyd, Michele Wood June, 2012 to June, 2015
Social Media Use during Disasters Brooke Liu July, 2012 to October, 2013
Training in Risk and Crisis Communication (TRACC) Brooke Liu, Elizabet Petrun Sayers, Katherine Worboys Izsak August, 2011 to October, 2013
Preparedness for Catastrophic Events Hamilton Bean, Kathleen Smarick, Monica Schoch-Spana, Paul Harwood November, 2008 to November, 2010
Modeling and Simulation of Public Response to Threat and Attacks June, 2005 to June, 2009
Textual Analysis of Electronic Media Coverage of Homeland Security-Related Risks Lisa Keranen September, 2006 to May, 2009
Communicating Risk of Mass Casualty Terrorism in Diverse Communities Elaine Vaughan May, 2005 to May, 2009
Effective Organizational Communication During Crises: Learning from the 2001 Anthrax Attacks Caron Chess May, 2005 to May, 2009
Best Practices for Preparing Communities: Citizen Engagement in Public Health Planning Monica Schoch-Spana May, 2005 to May, 2008
Project Title Publication Date START Authors Publication Typesort descending
Mobile Technology and the Transformation of Public Alert and Warning October 2019 Bean, Hamilton Book
Risk in Extreme Environments: Preparing, Avoiding, Mitigating, and Managing January 2018 Bier, Vicki Book
Advancing Crisis Communication Effectiveness: Integrating Public Relations Scholarship with Practice December 2020 Jin, Yan Book
The Social-Meditated Crisis Communication (SMCC) Model: Identifying the Next Frontier December 2020 Liu, Brooke; Jin, Yan Book Chapter
Geotargeted Alerts and Warnings March 2017 Wood, Michele Book Chapter
Decisions in disaster recovery operations November 2013 Zhuang, Jun Book Chapter
Toward More Audience-Oriented Approaches to Crisis Communication and Social Media Research January 2018 Liu, Brooke; Fraustino, Julia Book Chapter
Risk and Crisis Communication in Schools: Understanding Current Challenges and Opportunities June 2019 Liu, Brooke; Roberts, Holly; Egnoto, Michael; Page, Tyler Book Chapter
A Case Study of Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events, and Risk Communication in a Coastal Community June 2019 Petrun Sayers, Elizabeth Book Chapter
Response to Terrorism in America December 2008 Bourque, Linda Conference Paper
Terse Message Amplification in the Boston Bombing Response May 2014 Sutton, Jeannette Conference Paper
Call to Action: Mobilizing Community Discussion to Improve Information-Sharing About Vulnerabilities in Industrial Control Systems and Critical Infrastructure July 2019 Washburn, Rhyner Conference Paper
Reaching Vulnerable Populations in the Disaster-Prone US Gulf Coast: Communicating Across the Crisis Lifecycle August 2019 Petrun Sayers, Elizabeth Journal Article
Congress Report: Experts' Recommendations on Enacting Best Practices in Risk and Crisis Communication October 2013 Liu, Brooke; Madden, Stephanie Journal Article
The Role of Communication in Healthcare Systems and Community Resilience September 2017 Liu, Brooke; Petrun Sayers, Elizabeth; Roberts, Holly; Egnoto, Michael Journal Article
The business of healing: Focus group discussions of readjustment to the post-9/11 work environment among workers of affected agencies January 2010 Pfefferbaum, Betty Journal Article
Beyond Image Repair: Suggestions for Crisis Communication Theory Development September 2014 Liu, Brooke; Fraustino, Julia Journal Article
Understanding Motivated Publics during Disasters: Examining Message Functions, Frames, and Styles of Social Media Influentials and Followers October 2019 Liu, Brooke Journal Article
Miscommunication during the anthrax attacks: How events reveal organizational failures January 2007 Chess, Caron Journal Article
Universal Preventive Interventions for Children in the Context of Disasters and Terrorism April 2014 Pfefferbaum, Betty Journal Article
Tornado Warning: Understanding the National Weather Service’s Communication Strategies January 2020 Atwell Seate, Anita; Liu, Brooke; Herovic, Emina; Iles, Irina A. Journal Article
Elites and Panic: more to fear than fear itself January 2008 Chess, Caron Journal Article
How Disaster Information Form, Source, Type, and Prior Disaster Exposure Affect Public Outcomes: Jumping on the Social Media Bandwagon? January 2015 Liu, Brooke; Fraustino, Julia; Jin, Yan Journal Article
Willingness to Click: Risk Information Seeking during Imminent Threats August 2017 Sutton, Jeannette Journal Article
Eyes of the Storm: How Citizen Scientists Contribute to Government Forecasting and Risk Communication April 2020 Atwell Seate, Anita; Liu, Brooke; Herovic, Emina; Iles, Irina A. Journal Article
Disaster Warnings in Your Pocket: How Audiences Interpret Mobile Alerts for an Unfamiliar Hazard March 2016 Liu, Brooke; Mileti, Dennis; Bean, Hamilton; Sutton, Jeannette; Wood, Michele; Madden, Stephanie Journal Article
What it Takes to Get Passed On: Message Content, Style, and Structure as Predictors of Retransmission in the Boston Marathon Bombing Response August 2015 Sutton, Jeannette Journal Article
The SPARS Pandemic 2025–2028: A Futuristic Scenario to Facilitate Medical Countermeasure Communication March 2020 Schoch-Spana, Monica; Sell, Tara Kirk Journal Article
Communicating Crisis Uncertainty: A Review of the Knowledge Gaps April 2016 Liu, Brooke Journal Article
Retweeting Risk Communication: The Role of Threat and Efficacy August 2018 Sutton, Jeannette Journal Article
Crisis and Risk Communication Scholarship of the Future: Reflections on Research Gaps March 2020 Liu, Brooke Journal Article
Facilitation of Risk Communication During the Anthrax Attacks of 2001: The Organizational Backstory October 2007 Chess, Caron Journal Article
Disentangling Social Media Influence in Crises: Testing a Four-factor Model of Social Media Influence with Large Data November 2018 Liu, Brooke Journal Article
Influence of Community and Culture in the Ethical Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources in a Pandemic Situation: Deliberative Democracy Study March 2020 Schoch-Spana, Monica Journal Article
The Role of Homeland Security Information Bulletins within Emergency Management Organizations: A Case Study of Enactment July 2007 Bean, Hamilton; Keranen, Lisa Journal Article
Alerts and Warnings on Short Messaging Channels: Guidance from an Expert Panel Process May 2019 Sutton, Jeannette Journal Article
A Public Health Systems View of Risk Communication About Zika April 2020 Schoch-Spana, Monica; Sell, Tara Kirk Journal Article
Challenges and Opportunities for Pre-Crisis Emergency Risk Communication: Lessons Learned from the Earthquake Community February 2019 Herovic, Emina Journal Article
Machines, Monsters, and Coffin Corners: Broadcast Meteorologists’ Use of Figurative and Intense Language During Hurricane Harvey April 2020 Sutton, Jeannette Journal Article
Speaking with One Voice: Risk Communication Lessons from the US Anthrax Attacks June 2006 Chess, Caron Journal Article
Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words? The Effects of Maps and Warning Messages on How Publics Respond to Disaster Information April 2017 Liu, Brooke; Mileti, Dennis; Bean, Hamilton; Sutton, Jeannette; Egnoto, Michael; Wood, Michele; Madden, Stephanie Journal Article
Crisis Information Seeking and Sharing (CISS): Scale Development for Measuring Publics’ Communicative Behavior in Social-Mediated Public Health Crises April 2019 Jin, Yan Journal Article
From the Periphery and toward a Centralized Model for Trust in Government Risk and Disaster Communication June 2020 Liu, Brooke Journal Article
False Alarms, Real Challenges - One University's Communication Response to the 2001 Anthrax Crisis June 2006 Chess, Caron Journal Article
Milling and Public Warnings May 2017 Liu, Brooke; Mileti, Dennis; Bean, Hamilton; Sutton, Jeannette; Wood, Michele; Madden, Stephanie Journal Article
Editor's Essay: The Critical Need for Crisis and Risk Communication Research April 2019 Liu, Brooke Journal Article
Making Connections: Performance Regimes and Extreme Events November 2012 Bowman, Ann Journal Article
The Study of Mobile Public Warning Messages: A Research Review and Agenda February 2015 Liu, Brooke; Mileti, Dennis; Bean, Hamilton; Sutton, Jeannette; Wood, Michele; Madden, Stephanie Journal Article
Social Equity in Local Emergency Management Planning December 2009 Boyd, Marcus A. Journal Article
How Publics’ Active and Passive Communicative Behaviors Affect their Tornado Responses: An Integration of STOPS and SMCC August 2019 Liu, Brooke; Egnoto, Michael Journal Article
Improving shadow evacuation management: Case study of the Graniteville, South Carolina chlorine spill January 2007 Cutter, Susan Journal Article
Public Response to Terrorism: Findings from the National Survey of Disaster Experiences and Preparedness November 2008 Mileti, Dennis; Bourque, Linda; Wood, Michele Report
Annotated Bibliography for Public Risk Communication on Warnings for Public Protective Actions Response and Public Education September 2006 Mileti, Dennis; Sutton, Jeannette; Bourque, Linda; Wood, Michele Report
The Red Pill October 2005 Tierney, Kathleen Report
Explosive Detection Technology Adoption: Findings from a General Population Survey October 2017 Liu, Brooke; Iles, Irina A.; Egnoto, Michael Research Brief
Direct Effects: The Impact of COVID-19 on First Responders March 2020 Meehan, Nathan Research Brief
Project Fact Sheet: Monitor and Mitigate: The Impact of COVID-19 on Public Safety September 2020 Pate, Amy; Koven, Barnett S.; Meehan, Nathan Research Brief
The Role of Homeland Security Information Bulletins within Emergency Management Organizations February 2008 Bean, Hamilton; Keranen, Lisa Research Brief
Evidence-Based Guidance for Public Risk Communication and Education September 2006 Mileti, Dennis Research Brief
A Tragedy in Three Acts: COVID-19 and Compounding Crises October 2020 Koven, Barnett S.; Braniff, William Research Brief
Indirect Effects: The Impact of COVID-19 on Organizations & Service Delivery March 2020 Meehan, Nathan Research Brief
Advancing Understanding of Tornado Warnings, False Alarms, and Complacency September 2017 Liu, Brooke; Roberts, Holly; Egnoto, Michael Research Brief
Environmental Effects: Changes in Demand for First Responders due to COVID-19 March 2020 Meehan, Nathan Research Brief
Understanding Tornado Warnings, False Alarms, and Complacency September 2016 Liu, Brooke; Roberts, Holly; Egnoto, Michael Fact Sheet
Taking Effective Risk and Crisis Communication for Granted? August 2013 Liu, Brooke; Petrun, Elizabeth Discussion Point
Social Media Use during Disasters Fact Sheet May 2013 Liu, Brooke; Fraustino, Julia; Jin, Yan Project Fact Sheet
Training in Risk and Crisis Communication Modules: Project Fact Sheet December 2013 Liu, Brooke; Petrun, Elizabeth Project Fact Sheet
START Annual Meeting 2016: Quick-Fire Presentation - Unconventional Weapons and Technology, Political Instability, Risk Communication October 2016 Ackerman, Gary; LaFree, Gary; Roberts, Holly; Halverson, James; Binder, Markus; Egnoto, Michael; Sin, Steve Presentation
COVID-19: Implications for First Responders October 2020 Koven, Barnett S.; Braniff, William Presentation
RCPGP Warning System Integration Research Project Final Report November 2010 Mileti, Dennis; Bean, Hamilton START Reports
Risk Communication Training: Research Findings and Recommendations for Training Development February 2013 Liu, Brooke; Petrun Sayers, Elizabeth; Izsak, Katherine Worboys; Madden, Stephanie START Reports
Social Media Use during Disasters: A Review of the Knowledge Base and Gaps December 2012 Liu, Brooke; Fraustino, Julia; Jin, Yan START Reports
Understanding Risk Communication Best Practices: A Guide for Emergency Managers and Communicators May 2012 Liu, Brooke START Reports
Title Byline
UMD researchers receive NOAA grant to improve crisis communication UMD Department of Communication Staff
Communication during coronavirus Jessica Weiss
START undergraduate wins second place at international conference Jessica Rivinius
Research begins on Crisis Leadership project with help from FIRE students Zane Moses
Focus groups yield insight into complacency in emergency situations Jessica Rivinius
Scouting out risk communication field research Aileen St. Leger, Jessica Rivinius
UMD’s Undergraduate Research Day features START FIRE students Jessica Rivinius
New NOAA project aims to improve all hazards risk communication Jessica Rivinius
Study shows longer emergency text alerts improve safety Jessica Rivinius
TRACC off to a strong START Beth Schwartz
Freshmen add a spark to risk communication and resilience research Joshua Nesselrodt
Risk communication researchers earn top paper awards
Prepare, respond and recover with TRACC training Joshua Nesselrodt, Holly Roberts
$2.5 million NSF grant awarded for UMD-led disaster resilience research Alyssa Wolice, Laura Gonzalez
START’s TRACC receives FEMA approval Jessica Rivinius
START reaches out to dozens of middle and high schoolers Emily Smith
‘Best practices in crisis communications’
START seeking 2014 Outstanding Article Award nominations Jessica Rivinius
START participates in UMD’s ‘Constitution Day 3.0’ Mary Beck
Researchers from START’s Training in Risk and Crisis Communication (TRACC) Program earn Top Paper Awards Emily Smith
Discussion Point: Taking Effective Risk and Crisis Communication for Granted? Elizabeth Petrun, Brooke Liu
Risk Communication Research Roundtable: Methodology and Impact Mary Beck
Discussion Point: 'Keep Wicked Calm and Carry the Hell On': Boston, Terrorism and the Rhetorical Power of Resilience Hamilton Bean, Lisa Keranen
START report identifies new ways to train risk communication skills Mary Beck
Database Spotlight -- Public Warnings and Evacuations: A Study of the 2009 California Station Fire
Researcher Spotlight: Dennis Mileti and the sociology of disaster Jessica Rivinius
Understanding Risk Communication Best Practices and Theory Stephanie Madden
Enacting best practices in risk communication
Increasing risk perception alone won't improve preparedness Jessica Rivinius
Researcher spotlight: Hamilton Bean Kelly Kline
START participates in risk communication conference Claire Simon
START Releases 2011 Research Review
START Research Team to Develop Risk Communication Training Program
Follow the START Seminar, "The Role of Academia in Homeland Security" Live on Twitter
Call for Posters: Emergency Pre‐Event Communication
Research Internships Available for Fall 2007 at the University of Maryland
START investigator, Susan Cutter, advises Congress
START Announces Fellowships for 2005-06
Image Title Job Title Institution
Anita Atwell Seate

Assistant Professor, University of Maryland

Affiliate Assistant Professor, START

 University of Maryland
Photo of Brooke Liu Brooke Liu

Professor of Communication and START Affiliated Faculty Member

 University of Maryland
Devin Ellis

Policy & Research Program Director, ICONS Project

 University of Maryland
Holly Roberts

Strategic Communications Lead, Akoya; University of Maryland Lecturer
Michael Egnoto

Affiliated Researcher, START
Subscribe to Related Resources