Research that transformed the way emergency services issue warnings has been honoured with a Co-operative Research Centres Association excellence in innovation award.

Public information was reshaped after studies revealed how best to prepare, protect and motivate communities threatened by floods, fires, storms, heatwaves and other natural hazards.

“Communities under threat now receive warnings that meet their needs, and educational campaigns are targeted to key at risk groups,” Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre CEO Richard Thornton said.

Professor Vivienne Tippett led the research into how environmental and social cues, information sources, channel access and preference, warning messages and receiver characteristics inform protective action during the response and early recovery phases of natural hazards.

The researchers, from the Queensland University of Technology and Macquarie University, were presented the award in Adelaide last Wednesday.