By Susan Atkinson

During disasters, communities naturally develop their own communication networks alongside official emergency channels. By studying how people shared information during the 2019-20 bushfires and 2022 floods in Australia, this research reveals important patterns that can help strengthen community resilience. The findings suggest that emergency managers should identify and support emergent natural community connectors, as they help bridge gaps between official emergency communication and local community needs.

Through interviews with 19 community members who became key information sharers during these disasters, we identified three crucial elements for effective community communication: how people adapt and combine different technologies, how they build networks of trusted information sources, and how certain community members emerge as vital information connectors.

The study found that these informal information connectors play essential roles in their communities. For example, during the 2022 floods, one community member began by seeking information for personal safety but became a trusted source for her whole community, managing social media channels that provided crucial local updates. During the 2019-20 bushfires, another resident developed a neighbourhood fire monitoring network that combined local knowledge with modern technology, creating backup systems that helped keep his community informed when official channels were overwhelmed.

These community connectors often showcase strong digital skills, extensive local networks, a deep understanding of their community's needs, and the ability to translate complex emergency information into relevant local updates. Although they may not hold official positions, they become trusted sources by consistently sharing accurate, timely, and locally relevant information.

Understanding how these informal networks develop can help agencies better integrate with existing community communication patterns rather than trying to impose entirely new systems.