Exploring socio-cultural barriers to women’s access to early warning systems in coastal Odisha

This study investigates the barriers that limit women’s ability to receive and act upon early warning messages during disasters. It focuses on the intersection of socio-economic and cultural factors in coastal Odisha, India, with particular reference to Cyclone Fani. Using a mixed-method, exploratory design, data were collected in two phases from 211 women and from 173 stakeholders, including community volunteers, health workers, NGO staff, and government responders. Through surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews, the study identifies religious beliefs, socio-economic inequalities, communication barriers, and gendered risk perceptions as critical barriers to effective warning dissemination and preparedness. A Force Field Analysis (FFA) was applied to map and evaluate the relative strength of the barriers and facilitators influencing women’s disaster response behaviour. Factors such as grassroots volunteering, trained personnel, and strong neighbourhood networks emerged as key facilitators. Findings reveal that although most women received early warnings, behavioural and socio-cultural constraints limited their preparedness actions. These barriers underscore that early warning access and action are not merely technical challenges but are rooted in structural inequalities. The paper concludes that integrating behavioural and socio-cultural understanding into policy design is crucial for advancing inclusive disaster preparedness. By adopting behaviourally informed Early Warning Systems, Odisha and similar disaster-prone contexts can strengthen community responses to warning information and enable marginalized women to become active participants in resilience building.