One evening in August 2025, a Pakistani shepherd named Abuzar Hussain was tending to his flock in the mountainous area of Shijar. Around 6 p.m., a loud noise echoed through the valley, signaling the start of a glacial flood. Recognizing the danger, Abuzar quickly climbed to a spot where he could get a mobile signal and called the village. He alerted the community through the mosque’s loudspeaker, helping to save hundreds of lives. This incident highlights the importance of informal communication during emergencies, even in regions with advanced early warning systems. Researchers in the field of risk and crisis communication have long emphasized that effective disaster response isn't solely dependent on official messages. Instead, the credibility of the information source plays a crucial role in how people perceive and react to risks. To better understand this dynamic, a group of researchers conducted surveys in four countries—Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Florida—after major weather-related disasters in 2024. These included Storm Boris, which caused severe flooding in central Europe, and Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the southeastern U.S. Their goal was to measure “information voids,” or the gap between what people expect to receive and what they actually get during emergencies. The researchers asked participants to evaluate several factors: how much information they received versus how much they wanted, how accurate it was compared to their expectations, which sources they trusted versus which they actually heard from, and their preferred communication channels versus what was accessible. From this, they calculated “void scores,” which reflected the difference between ideal and actual information experiences. Their findings revealed that while people generally felt they had enough information about the weather events, the main issue wasn't the amount of information but the source and how it was delivered. Trust in emergency responders such as firefighters and police was high, while trust in social media influencers and religious leaders was relatively low. This becomes especially important during disasters like the flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border in August 2026, where communication infrastructure was severely damaged, making it difficult for emergency responders to share updates. Without reliable information, rumors can spread, leading to confusion and social unrest. This has been a growing concern, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when misinformation often spread in the absence of clear, official communication. Researchers now believe that measuring and addressing these information gaps can help prevent the spread of misinformation during crises. Early studies suggest a link between information voids and increased misinformation during the pandemic. Disaster planners must not only focus on the quantity and quality of information but also on who delivers it. Engaging trusted community figures and ensuring that information is widely and frequently shared can significantly improve public response to emergencies. While investing in early warning systems is essential, it is equally important to ensure that accurate information is delivered through trusted channels at the right time, to truly protect people during disasters.