Systemic Vulnerabilities in Hispanic and Latinx Immigrant Communities Led to the Reliance on an Informal Warning System in the December 10–11, 2021, Tornado Outbreak

Abstract

On December 10–11, 2021, the deadliest December tornado outbreak on record produced a family of EF4 tornadoes that severely impacted communities in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. Although the National Weather Service anticipated the outbreak three days earlier, not all communities received life-saving information before, during, or after the disaster. To examine systemic vulnerabilities experienced by Hispanic and Latinx immigrant populations, our team conducted a week-long field study in areas directly impacted by significant tornadoes. Connecting with local organizations, we interviewed 25 immigrants and community leaders in Arkansas and Kentucky. Social and systemic vulnerabilities, such as English proficiency, immigration status, and varying cultures of disaster preparedness, are examined as potential blockades to inclusive disaster response. Themes are contextualized into Mileti and Sorensen’s warning response model. Findings indicate that US Hispanic and Latinx immigrants relied mainly on unofficial sources that had no expertise in severe weather forecasting and communication, prolonging their time to effectively respond to tornadoes and take proper protective actions. We conclude with practical recommendations for developing a multilingual emergency alert system that integrates community leaders and underserved groups. During the December 10–11, 2021, tornado outbreak, Hispanic and Latinx immigrant populations were disproportionately affected by disaster due to unequal access to warning information, linguistic barriers to understanding, and their immigration status. Hispanic and Latinx immigrants relied upon an informal warning system, where they mainly depended on unofficial sources for life-saving information. With limited access to official sources that communicated in their native language, immigrants took longer to process warning information overall. We conclude with the proposal of a multilingual alert system that prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable.