ABSTRACT Extreme weather events often require rapid shifts in public behaviour, such as conserving water during utility shortages. This study examined how three evidence‐based social influence strategies – cultural targeting, autonomy support, and descriptive social norms – shape public cooperation with water conservation advisories during such events. English‐ and Spanish‐speaking participants took part in a message‐testing experiment, in which various combinations of these strategies were embedded in a simulated water advisory. Results showed that Spanish‐speaking participants expressed greater willingness to comply, particularly when messages emphasised personal choice. Autonomy‐supportive language lowered psychological reactance and boosted compliance, while messages offering clear, actionable steps were effective across groups. These findings highlight the importance of culturally inclusive, autonomy‐respecting communication in fostering public trust, cooperation, and resilience during climate‐related infrastructure emergencies.
McGlone et al. (Fri,) studied this question.