ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND DECISION MAKING IN HURRICANE EMERGENCIES Prepared for the Hurricane Forecast Socioeconomic Workshop, February 16-18, 2005 Pomona, California by Michael K. Lindell, Ph.D. Carla S. Prater, Ph.D. and Walter Gillis Peacock, Ph.D. Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center Texas A&M University College Station Texas 77843-3137 Phone; 979-845-7813 email: hrrc@tamu.edu June 24, 2005 ABSTRACT This paper reviews research and theory on the processes by which emergency relevant organizations communicate with each other and with the population at risk from a hurricane strike. The technology for hurricane forecast, warning, and protective action has made significant advances in the past 20 years, but there is a disturbing potential for hurricane strikes that cause a large number of casualties in addition to the predictably large economic cost from property destruction. Consequently, social science research is needed to expand the existing knowledge base on the response of households, businesses, and special facilities to hurricane warnings. Available research suggests local officials need better information about evacuation time estimates, evacuation costs, and the potential loss of life in a late evacuation. They also need improved decision support systems that will facilitate the choice of appropriate protective actions when hurricanes threaten their jurisdictions.