What Do We Know about Communicating with Communities Following an Earthquake?

 The Communicating with Disaster-Affected Communities (CDAC) Network has put together a lessons-learned web document on communicating with communities following an earthquake, focused on communication with Nepali communities and connecting lessons learned for early-stage action that can result in operational effectiveness. The strategies below are partially drawn from analysis of communication in disaster-affected Haiti through the document "Ann Kite Yo Pale or Let Them Speak: Best Practice and Lessons Learned in Communication with Disaster Affected Communities", Haiti 2010, as well as CDAC Network Learning Reviews on communication with communities during responses in Haiti and the Philippines (2012, 2014).

"1) Asking recipients if your assistance is appropriate from an early stage is vital

ALNAP’s Learning from earthquake relief paper highlights the need to constantly check with communities that aid provision is culturally appropriate and aligned with their needs. Local populations voices need to be heard and driving programmatic decisions.

2) Early assessment of people’s information needs, and the best channels and methods to meet them is crucial

Including questions on information needs and preferred communication channels in needs assessments can help determine how best to reach communities with vital information as early as possible. Guidance on questions to include in your needs assessment is available here.

This Nepal infoasaid Media and Telecommunications Landscape Guide developed by BBC Media Action and Internews in 2011 gives information about language, literacy, media stations and other communications channels.

Bear in mind it is correct as of 2011, and also fuel shortages and damaged transmitters may result in some of these channels being unavailable. Up to date information on functioning media stations should be available soon.

3) Key information needs (or ‘things people need to know’) after an earthquake tend to be as follows:

Family reunification - how to contact and find family members

Guidance on shelter, as people are afraid to go back into damaged houses

How to meet their physical needs (food, water, medical assistance)

Dead body management (countering rumours such as dead bodies don't spread diseases)

Assessment of buildings (whether I can go back home or not)

Followed later by need for information on: personal documentation, property deeds, compensation, death certificates and other legal issues.

We also know that localised information is really important for communities.

4) A multi-channel approach to communication works best

Face to face communication is always critical. Make sure field staff have as much information as possible so they can answer people’s questions, and that they are feeding back what communities’ ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ are, so your agency can try and respond to them.

Look out for coordinated communication efforts amongst local and humanitarian responders, and feed vital information into existing media broadcasts. BBC Nepali is currently broadcasting its lifeline programme, available to listen to on over 300 channels. Frequencies and broadcast information available on the BBC Nepali Facebook page.

Personal radio sets may have been destroyed, resulting in limited access to information, particularly in rural areas. Consider coordinating with other agencies to include solar/wind up radios in aid distributions; or playing radio broadcasts through loudspeakers at distribution points.

5) Don’t just message out - Create a space for interaction and dialogue

‘Communication models that facilitate genuine dialogue and facilitate listening to perspectives and concerns of local populations are more effective on multiple levels (including improving operational design and delivery, relationship building, delivering on accountability and transparency commitments and developing trust). The ability to communicate - ask a question, share a story - rather than just source information is key for communities affected by disasters.’ (Wall and Chery, 2012)

Communication and connectivity plays a crucial role in psychosocial support  and healing following a crisis, as this short video shows.

6) Providing support to local media can help with rumour mitigation and aid effectiveness

Local media can play a vital role in getting important information to communities, and providing a platform for community voice, dialogue and connectivity, as well as mitigating rumours.

In Haiti, practical support such as fuel for radio station generators and restoration of Internet access (this is increasingly prioritised by local journalists), as well as food and shelter for reporters, would have made a considerable difference. (Wall and Chery, 2012)

7) Coordinated communication with communities is crucial. Daily press briefings have already been set up in Nepal to reduce mixed messages for communities."