Abstract

Being able to access precise and reliable information is essential in emergency situations, such as pandemics, terrorism, and natural disasters. Insufficient information literacy puts a person at a disadvantage in many situations. Because of the cultural and linguistic barriers to communication, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds have been identified as particularly vulnerable populations in emergency situations in the United States. There are 20,000 Japanese nationals living in the six states that make up the New England area. This study investigated types of information sources and means to access information that Japanese people in the Greater Boston area utilized during the Boston Marathon Bombing events in 2013. In addition, this study explores the types of information they perceived as valuable. The results showed that local TV and internet news were perceived as useful means to obtain information. Timely, accurate, up-to-date information and information from reliable sources, such as local governments, as well as information in Japanese were perceived as valuable. Future implications include the development of the communication system in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan in order to supply timely and immediate information in Japanese as well as to connect people with various support services.