Weak Infrastructure and Distrust Complicate Communication During Natural Disasters in Rural Texas

After Hurricane Beryl struck, Marilyn Mayville, a 72-year-old resident of East Texas, struggled to find help. With no power, unreliable cell service, and a dwindling phone battery amidst a heat wave, she relied on her nephew in Dallas to inform her of a nearby cooling center. By the time Mayville reached the station, she was one of only five people there, highlighting how slowly news about community resources spread in the wake of the storm.

The situation improved the following day as more residents from Livingston arrived at the cooling station. During intermittent periods of cell service, Mayville stayed connected with her neighbors and church community.

Effective communication is crucial during disasters, but rural areas in East Texas often face significant challenges. Limited broadband and cellphone coverage hinder residents’ ability to stay informed through online news sources. Additionally, there is a growing mistrust of institutions like the news media and government.

Jennifer Horney, a professor of epidemiology, notes that rural residents often turn to social media, friends, and neighbors for information, trusting local sources over official notifications.

In Deep East Texas, which includes Polk County and Livingston, the Genasys Mass Notification System is used to disseminate alerts via voice, text, and email. Polk County also has its own text messaging system, AlertMePolkCounty, and County Judge Sydney Murphy ensures consistent messaging across platforms. Despite these efforts, infrastructure limitations persist, as some residents lack access to necessary services.

Broadband access has long been an issue in these areas. A 2019 study revealed that only 15% of the needed broadband coverage was effectively provided. Although recent funding aims to improve connectivity, it will take time to see results. Cellular service, while somewhat better than broadband, remains unreliable in some rural areas.

Murphy is working to enhance broadband coverage through grants and is building a new communications tower using American Rescue Plan Act funds to improve cellular service. Building trust remains a challenge, but Murphy’s consistent communication has helped increase subscriptions to the county’s text service and social media followers.

Residents like Marissa Suski and her husband, Brian, felt confused during the hurricane as conflicting information circulated. They found the most reliable updates came from unsolicited text messages about boil-water notices and flood information. These messages, sent by Murphy, proved more trustworthy than other sources.

“I trust those texts more than what’s coming out of a human’s mouth,” Marissa said.