In January 2018, Montecito, California, experienced mudslides that killed 23 people, injured more than 160, and destroyed over 100 residences. The event led to concerns about the effectiveness of the county’s evacuation strategies and their communication of risk with the public.
In this case study, Tang discusses the failed communications of California officials to the public, which played a huge role in the mass destruction and fatalities. Tang notes it is crucial to relay the potential severity of such disasters to the residents to allow for informed decision-making to avoid mass destruction and casualties.