Its time to talk a bit about jargon again... but this time in relation to CURFEW. Curfew is defined as: a regulation requiring people to remain indoors between specified hours, usually at night, frequently for the protection of the community. As such, there are consequences for people who violate a curfew, such as being stopped by police, and remaining out past curfew can be considered unlawful behavior. In some cases, there are some exemptions to a curfew, meaning that even when a curfew is set it doesn't apply to everyone all the time. Curfew, as technical language, represents an order (the regulation being imposed) and the allowable behaviors (stay indoors during specific times) in one word.
In periods of disaster recovery, curfews are also set. During the recenter Hurricanes Helene and Milton, curfews were issued as Wireless Emergency Alerts to keep people off the streets/roads at night. A scan of the curfew messages issued shows that they varied in their level of detail and specificity, as seen below, especially among those that were sent as longer messages.
Both messages include some key content as identified in the Warning Response Model, but the top message is considerably more terse than the one on the bottom.
The top message is missing the message source, the hazardous conditions, and the actions people should take to either protect themselves or to correctly follow the regulation.
The bottom message includes the message source and location, the time, the hazardous conditions requiring the curfew, and the actions that people should take. It also identifies who is not affected by the curfew (essential workers and responders).
What I find most useful about the longer message on the bottom is that it clearly explains what the curfew means (do not travel after 9 pm) and to whom the curfew applies (those who are not essential works or responders). It also explains why the curfew has been set (dangerous road conditions).
Notably, I'm writing this post 9 days before the election and I'm thinking a lot about curfew orders that may need to be issued on November 5. Providing clear, complete, instructive messages can help message receivers to understand what they are being asked to do, by whom, in what location, by when, and why. They can also demonstrate organizational transparency and credibility - something that is increasingly important following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
If your organization is developing curfew messages, be sure to take a look at the resources available to help you and your organization to write effective messages in a pinch. Bookmark and download The Warning Lexicon - it's free and offers step-by-step instructions on how to write a better warning message for 48 hazards INCLUDING CURFEW.
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