When floods strike, clear and fast warnings save lives. Too often, however, these crucial alerts fall short. Disaster experts explain what makes the difference.
Lessons from Texas
In South Bend, Texas, residents once marked flood levels on a concrete pillar. The visual warning reminded people that water had risen that high before. Disaster communications expert Keri Stephens recalls how powerful such reminders can be. She now notes that those watermarks have faded.
Communities in Texas live under constant flood threat, worsened by climate change. When deadly flash floods struck the state in 2025, questions arose over whether alerts were good enough. Warnings went out, yet some residents said they did not grasp the danger. In the worst-hit areas, alerts arrived too late. Others said they never received any warning at all, according to the New York Times.
Clear flood alerts give people time to act and evacuate. Forecasting, resilience measures, and emergency responses all matter. Still, messaging often makes the decisive difference. Stephens found some people react more when urged to protect their cars rather than themselves. With floods growing more frequent and intense, experts stress the urgent need to improve warning systems.
Clear instructions can save lives
Flood messaging poses unique challenges. “We are not taught in schools how to respond to floods,” says Stephens. In the US, children learn fire drills with “stop, drop and roll.” No such drills exist for floods.
Floods are the most common natural disaster worldwide. Their number is rising fast. From 1980 to 1999, there were 1,389 major floods. In the next two decades, the figure nearly doubled.
In the US, the National Weather Service issues six types of alerts, from “flash flood watch” to “flood warning.” But these terms confuse many. “If people need time to decode the message, they lose time to act,” warns Joseph Trujillo-Falcón from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He calls for plain language that clearly states the risk and action.
Research shows effective warnings need three things: a clear hazard description, exact location details, and simple action guidance. Credibility of the source is also vital.
Stephens adds that warnings must state whether to evacuate or stay put. “When sirens sound, many don’t know if they should shelter or leave,” she says. “You must end with a clear action, not just a danger statement.”
The toll of floods
Floods kill about 5,000 people globally every year. In the US, the annual average death toll is 127. Beyond deaths, floods destroy homes, businesses, and infrastructure. They wipe out savings and possessions and spread disease. Survivors often suffer long-term trauma, including PTSD.
Researchers at the University of Houston tested a redesigned flood alert system. One group received old alerts with only colour-coded risks. Another group saw alerts with practical advice, like “never drive into flooded roads” or “prepare to shelter for days.” The second group planned better for storms, showing how instructions boost protection.
Tailored alerts for different groups
Not every group reacts to the same message. “Women, disabled, elderly, and those without phones need adapted communication,” says Liz Saccoccia of the World Resources Institute.
Risk tolerance also differs. Stephens found that the phrase “Turn around, don’t drown” did not convince young men. Some laughed, saying their trucks could handle it. Yet the phrase “Keep your car high and dry” struck a chord. “That message worked beautifully with young men,” she says.
Men die more often in floods than women, research shows. They take more risks and often drive into floodwaters. Targeted wording can help curb that behaviour.
Multilingual warnings make the difference
Trujillo-Falcón highlights the importance of multilingual alerts. “One in five Americans speaks a language other than English at home,” he says. In Texas, Spanish-speaking communities face high flood risk. Alerts in Spanish can decide life or death.
Yet translations often reduce urgency. A 2022 study found Spanish speakers viewed the official word “aviso” (used for warning) as less urgent than alternatives. “Advertencia,” used for “advisory,” even felt more serious. This confusion risks deadly misunderstandings.
Trujillo-Falcón stresses the role of community members. Local “language brokers” can share messages and build trust. Word of mouth strengthens both reach and credibility.
Community trust and word of mouth
Time and again, communities prove key in disaster response. Rural areas often rely on personal networks rather than official channels.
A 2021 review showed word of mouth alerts triggered stronger reactions. Door-to-door warnings carried more urgency and authority than sirens or texts. Speech-based alerts through radio, TV, or phone also outperformed websites and social media.
Bangladesh shows what works with limited resources. Its flood warning system mixes text alerts, radio, shelters, and volunteers with megaphones. Volunteers even knock on doors to push evacuations. Half are women, ensuring wider trust and reach.
In Peru, Cyclone Yaku hit hard in 2023. Over 800,000 people needed help. Risk expert Miluska Ordoñez says local brigades played a vital role. Practical Action worked with communities to map risks and form flood brigades. When floods struck, 40 volunteers evacuated hundreds by word of mouth.
Technology helps, but trust and participation matter more. Ordoñez stresses the importance of listening. Community-led systems respond better because people feel included. Women and youth often remain unheard, she adds, but their voices are essential.
The future of flood alerts
Trujillo-Falcón believes the future lies in a mix of formal systems and community networks. “We must rely on communities as much as technology,” he says. “In the end, people save each other.”
