Paper Type
ERF
Abstract
Social media has transformed hurricane crisis communication from one-way information dissemination to dynamic, bidirectional interaction between emergency management organizations (OEMs) and the public. Yet limited research examines how communication content, intent, and emotional tone co-evolve across distinct disaster stages. This study integrates Speech-Act Theory with Fink’s crisis lifecycle model to develop a stage-sensitive framework of digital crisis communication. Using Twitter data from Hurricanes Florence (2018), Michael (2018), and Nicole (2022), we analyze thematic content, dialogue acts, and emotional expressions across buildup, breakout, chronic, and termination phases. The proposed analysis identifies temporal shifts and convergence-divergence patterns between OEM and public discourse. By linking what is said, how it is framed, and what emotions are expressed, this research advances crisis informatics and offers stage-specific insights for designing more responsive, trust-enhancing social media strategies during hurricanes.
Paper Number
1461
Recommended Citation
Mandaokar, Pranali, "From Warning to Recovery: A Speech-Act Perspective on the dynamics of public communication in the context of hurricanes" (2026). AMCIS 2026 Proceedings. 13.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2026/sig_sec/sig_sec/13
From Warning to Recovery: A Speech-Act Perspective on the dynamics of public communication in the context of hurricanes
Social media has transformed hurricane crisis communication from one-way information dissemination to dynamic, bidirectional interaction between emergency management organizations (OEMs) and the public. Yet limited research examines how communication content, intent, and emotional tone co-evolve across distinct disaster stages. This study integrates Speech-Act Theory with Fink’s crisis lifecycle model to develop a stage-sensitive framework of digital crisis communication. Using Twitter data from Hurricanes Florence (2018), Michael (2018), and Nicole (2022), we analyze thematic content, dialogue acts, and emotional expressions across buildup, breakout, chronic, and termination phases. The proposed analysis identifies temporal shifts and convergence-divergence patterns between OEM and public discourse. By linking what is said, how it is framed, and what emotions are expressed, this research advances crisis informatics and offers stage-specific insights for designing more responsive, trust-enhancing social media strategies during hurricanes.
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