The paper examines the Homeland Security Advisory System in light of existing knowledge about effective warning systems in the social science of disasters. It firsts describes an integrated warning system model and what is known about effective warning messages. The Homeland Security Advisory System is then contrasted to the successful hurricane warning system in the United States, to point out the existing difficulties with the former. It concludes with a section advocating an alternative all hazards approach to increase the resilience of communities.
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