If you read the blog posted on July 8, you know that wildfire messaging is inconsistent and frequently incomplete. You can read research about wildfire WEAs by going to this paper on Ember Alerts. Consistency is frequently related to the terms that are used to prepare people to get ready to leave and to indicate it's time to go (see chart below). We see the use of levels (1, 2, 3 - which, honestly, I have no idea if 1 is the worst or 3 is...), combinations of pre-evacuation/evacuation, evacuation warning/evacuation order, and voluntary or mandatory evacuation, and the use of Ready Set Go (which was originally designed for preparedness campaigns but somehow morphed into status levels; I'm guessing that there is an assumption that these words are simple and therefore easy to interpret by the public without an educational campaign).
In another great WEA edit by @zachstanford, we can see the use of "SET" status in the original message and how that can be improved by using PLAIN LANGUAGE for all message receivers.
The original message includes the source, the name of the hazard, location, and indication that the population is in a SET status.
In the revised message, we find improved clarity that removes the use of acronyms (CSCO) and the wildfire JARGON that is included in the use of the word SET status.
The revised message clearly states that a WILDFIRE is burning in the areas indicated in the original message, but replaces JARGON with plain language - PREPARE NOW by gathering essential supplies and being READY TO LEAVE when asked to do so.
This message uses the same format and essentially the same content as the revised message included in the July 8 blog post - by using this same structure and style, readers can become familiar with WEAs as a type of message that clearly indicates the threat and the actions necessary to prevent injury or loss. Familiarity among message receivers also means an ability to quickly assess message credibility potentially leading to quicker actions
Notably, this revised message follows what is taught in the FEMA-IPAWS Message Design Dashboard course as well as the Warning Lexicon.
For more recommended contents, be sure to download The Warning Lexicon - it's free and offers step-by-step instructions on how to write a better warning message.
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