North Carolina state and local leaders, emergency managers, disaster response professionals, media representatives, and crisis communications experts gathered for the North Carolina Disaster Communications Summit. The summit, hosted by the Office of Governor Josh Stein, aimed to discuss ways to better inform the public before, during, and after disasters.

Misinformation and Public Trust

One topic that surfaced repeatedly was misinformation. Brian Haines with North Carolina Emergency Management said misinformation was ‘weaponized’ during Hurricane Helene, creating additional challenges for emergency officials trying to communicate accurate information to the public. Haines said the agency now has dedicated staff monitoring social media for false information during disasters so they can respond quickly.

Building public trust was another major focus of the summit. Mark Weaver, a crisis communications expert and adjunct professor at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government, said ‘showing rather than claiming’ is one of the most effective ways to earn credibility with the public. David McIntire with Brunswick County Emergency Management emphasized the importance of outreach and building relationships with communities long before disaster strikes.

The Role of Meteorologists and Media

The summit also highlighted the important role meteorologists and the media play in communicating risk. WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth participated in a panel discussing how broadcasters help translate complex weather information into clear, actionable guidance for viewers. Wilmoth suggested it would be valuable to have a single, centralized source where people could find all of the information they need during a crisis.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.