Technological Innovations in Risk Communication: The case of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) in the implementation of the ES-Alert system in emergency management

Abstract

The ES-Alert system, implemented in the Canary Islands, constitutes a significant innovation in risk communication and emergency management. This study aims to assess its deployment on the island of Gran Canaria following the simulation exercise conducted on September 26, 2024, by the Emergency and Security Coordination Center 112 of the Government of the Canary Islands. Additionally, the study evaluates aspects related to risk perception among the population. The effectiveness of the system was analysed based on mass messaging sent by the authorities to the entire population of Gran Canaria. A non-probabilistic convenience sampling approach was employed, targeting students, faculty, and administrative staff at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The survey examined key aspects such as message clarity, perceived usefulness, and impact on decision-making. Findings indicate a high level of acceptance of the system, with 87% of participants considering it useful in real emergency situations. However, 31% identified areas for improvement in message clarity, and 42% reported that their response capability would depend on the type of emergency. These results underscore the importance of precisely defining emergency messages while effectively capturing public attention to elicit appropriate responses. Furthermore, the findings highlight the necessity of enhancing public training and awareness to facilitate immediate and informed decision-making in different emergency scenarios. The study also emphasizes the crucial role of communication technologies and geographic information systems in modernizing emergency management. Overall, ES-Alert has been found to optimize early warning dissemination and significantly improve decision-making processes, establishing itself as a key tool for enhancing community resilience in island contexts.

Emergency management; perception; information and communication technologies; early warning.