Feature
Democracy and the Informed Public 2026 Summer Reading List
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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.
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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