For Setareki Macanawai, receiving warning of an incoming tropical cyclone is not simply a technical solution, it is a lifeline. 

The long-time disability advocate and President of the Fiji Disabled People’s Federation knows first-hand, through lived experience, what it means should that warning not come. Should he and his family be left to scramble for supplies or to prepare their home for strong winds or rain. 

Many take it for granted when dark clouds gather, checking the weather forecast, or receiving an alert on mobile. However, for some, receiving a warning is not always as simple as reading a text message or watching the news. 

Together with his wife, Ana, Setareki has spent more than 15 years championing the rights of persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction, climate action and emergency preparedness.

His motivation is clear: to ensure that people with disabilities are involved shaping the systems designed to keep communities safe. That their input is built in, and not bolted on. 

“When we talk about early warning systems, it is not one size fits all. Different disabilities require different ways of accessing information,” he says. 

As a person with visual impairment, Setareki has gone through the challenges of receiving emergency alerts. While smartphones are equipped with accessibility features and many can now read text messages aloud, not everyone has access to this technology. For many people who rely on basic mobile phones, important warnings may still remain inaccessible.

“Owning a phone is not enough. You need information in a format that you can access in every possible way,” Setareki adds. 

His message is loud and clear: people-centred early warning systems must be designed to meet the diverse needs of the communities they are there to protect and serve.

For Setareki, effective preparedness starts long before a tropical cyclone forms. 

“Early warnings are being sent out but the challenge for us would be to make sure this information is accessible. If there is an intentional focus on people and how to get early warning systems available and accessible to people, including people with disabilities, I think that is already a step in the right direction,” he says. 

Beyond awareness, Setareki believes that people with disabilities must be actively included in the design of warning systems. Accessible communication formats, ranging from audio alerts for people who are visually impaired to sign language and visual messaging for people who are deaf, are critical.

At home though, preparedness is a family effort.

As Setareki’s wife and primary caregiver, Ana plays a critical role in ensuring emergency information reaches every member of the household.

“When messages come through text, I read them out, so he knows what is happening,” she says. 

Once an alert is received, the family moves quickly, checking supplies, preparing food and water, gathering batteries and lights, and planning should there be any potential disruptions to electricity or water services.

“My husband tells us what we need to prepare, and it becomes my responsibility to ensure that we have everything ready,” she says. 

For their family, preparedness is more than a routine. It’s an act of care.

“Setareki becomes a priority for all of us, our children and our grandchildren.”

Growing up in a coastal village in Lau, Ana experienced the consequences of late warnings first-hand.

Almost every year, tropical cyclones threatened her village. Often, families realised the danger only when the cyclone had already arrived.

Women and children would be rushed towards safety while men stayed behind to secure homes and shelters. The journeys were dangerous with strong winds and flying debris. 

Reflecting on this experience, Ana believes early warnings delivered in accessible and timely ways could save lives, protect properties, and give families the opportunity to prepare before disaster strikes.

“We were running through the cyclone, in the middle of the cyclone. If there was any means of accessing that information beforehand, it would save so many people’s lives.”

Audio, visual, plain-simple language and sign-language formats all have a role to play. Information must be available through multiple channels in languages communities understand.

Just as important is community awareness and support. Setareki emphasised that neighbours, families, and village members can act lifesaving links for people with disabilities, particularly those living alone.

“If we can get the early warnings system right, we can save lives.”

His words serve as a powerful reminder that resilience is not only about technology but ensuring that every person receives the information they need to act fast, and to stay safe. Because when disaster approaches, no one should be left unheard, unseen or behind. 

The United Nations Development Programme’s support to strengthening early warnings systems across Fiji is implemented in partnership with the Government of Fiji through the National Disaster Risk Management Office, supported in turn by the Green Climate Fund, with technical advisory from the International Telecommunications Union, World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.