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Policy Brief  

Paradise Revisited

Technology has enriched the lives of Americans with novel communication choices. It has also made it more difficult to reach everyone in emergencies. In a new policy brief, Mary W. Graham, senior fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, explores this new paradox of the digital transition.

By:

Issues

Information and Transparency

Download the PDF

Firefighters putting out a forest fire with hoses.

The story of California’s deadliest wildfire, which killed 85 people and destroyed the community of Paradise, provides critical lessons that can help save lives in future emergencies. Because traditional landlines and broadcasts no longer dominate and digital alerts often fail, communities must better understand the diverse communication channels residents use and employ a variety of strategies to reach everyone. Advances such as smart sirens and satellite-based alerts may help improve these emergency strategies.

To read the full paper, scroll up and click “Download the PDF” to the right of your screen.

 

Mary W. Graham is a senior fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. Her research aims to enhance the availability, accessibility, and usefulness of information essential to informed decision-making in our roles as consumers, parents, community members, and beyond.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the positions of the Ash Center or its affiliates.

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The Program on Democracy and the Informed Public hosted a seminar with Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard University and founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School.

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More on this Issue

Do Social Media Platforms Make People Happier?

Video

Do Social Media Platforms Make People Happier?

Social media has become one of the primary ways that families, communities and societies stay connected. As its use becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, opting out can feel difficult for those who want to remain connected to others. At the same time, critics argue that people may be better off using social media less, or perhaps not at all. Why, then, do people continue to use products they may believe are ultimately harmful to their well-being?

The Program on Democracy and the Informed Public hosted a seminar with Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard University and founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School.

How Americans Navigate Voting Information Ahead of the 2026 Midterm Elections
Captiol building with trend graphic

Additional Resource

How Americans Navigate Voting Information Ahead of the 2026 Midterm Elections

The Shorenstein Center’s 2026 Voting Information Trends project—developed in collaboration with the National Internet Observatory at Northeastern University, the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation’s Program on Democracy and the Informed Public, and The Civic Health and Institutions Project—provides new insights into the voter information landscape in the United States ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Among the resources, an interactive dashboard maps where Americans are finding voting information and learning about key aspects of the voting process—from sourcing polling locations to voter registration. Also included are a series of trends reports gauging perceptions of voting in the lead up to the 2026 midterm elections.