Understanding and Effectively Communicating Critical Information: A Case Review of an Inland Northwest Thunderstorm Event

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Spokane, WA has spent years developing robust communication strategies to relay hazards and potential impacts to core partners. The implementation of these strategies was based on feedback and social science best practices. These efforts were tested July 23, 2019 when a line of severe thunderstorms approached the Spokane metro area. Impacts from the severe weather included downed trees and power lines, dozens of new fires, and a direct hit at an outdoor concert where thousands of attendees had gathered. This research will delve into how NWS core partners received and acted on a variety of messaging prior to and during the thunderstorm event and what communication techniques could further prove advantageous to decision makers and stakeholders at large.