Systemic Vulnerabilities in Hispanic and Latinx Immigrant Communities Led to the Reliance on an Informal Warning System in the December 10–11, 2021, Tornado Outbreak
Abstract
On December 10–11, 2021, the deadliest December tornado outbreak on record produced a family of EF4 tornadoes that severely impacted communities in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. Although the National Weather Service anticipated the outbreak three days earlier, not all communities received life-saving information before, during, or after the disaster. To examine systemic vulnerabilities experienced by Hispanic and Latinx immigrant populations, our team conducted a week-long field study in areas directly impacted by significant tornadoes. Connecting with local organizations, we interviewed 25 immigrants and community leaders in Arkansas and Kentucky. Social and systemic vulnerabilities, such as English proficiency, immigration status, and varying cultures of disaster preparedness, are examined as potential blockades to inclusive disaster response. Themes are contextualized into Mileti and Sorensen’s warning response model. Findings indicate that US Hispanic and Latinx immigrants relied mainly on unofficial sources that had no expertise in severe weather forecasting and communication, prolonging their time to effectively respond to tornadoes and take proper protective actions. We conclude with practical recommendations for developing a multilingual emergency alert system that integrates community leaders and underserved groups.
Practical Applications
During the December 10–11, 2021, tornado outbreak, Hispanic and Latinx immigrant populations were disproportionately affected by disaster due to unequal access to warning information, linguistic barriers to understanding, and their immigration status. Hispanic and Latinx immigrants relied upon an informal warning system, where they mainly depended on unofficial sources for life-saving information. With limited access to official sources that communicated in their native language, immigrants took longer to process warning information overall. We conclude with the proposal of a multilingual alert system that prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable.
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Data Availability Statement
All de-identified transcripts from the field that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This article is dedicated to the resilient, courageous immigrants in the United States who fight for a better tomorrow. Special gratitude goes to the Centro Hispano, the Mayfield Independent School District, and the city of Bowling Green for their kind collaboration and contribution. We also want to express our appreciation to Cassandra Shivers-Williams and Gretchen Montgomery for insightful review and to Jonathan Thornton for his contributions to Fig. 1. Special thanks to Wade Witmer for his help in retrieving the archives on English- and Spanish-language WEAs during the outbreak. Funding was provided by NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research under NOAA-University of Oklahoma Cooperative Agreement #NA21OAR4320204, US Department of Commerce.
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Natural Hazards Review
Volume 25 • Issue 2 • May 2024
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© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Aug 31, 2022
Accepted: Aug 23, 2023
Published online: Dec 27, 2023
Published in print: May 1, 2024
Discussion open until: May 27, 2024
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- Jeannette Sutton, Hamilton Bean, Lori Peek, Erica Kuligowski, Michele Wood, The Legacy of Dennis S. Mileti and the Future of Public Alert and Warning Research, Natural Hazards Review, 10.1061/NHREFO.NHENG-2113, 25, 3, (2024).