This letter to the editor suggests that emergency risk communication is the most effective strategy for providing information to individuals and communities to make the best possible decisions in crisis events.

Ambiguity in responsibility is a prominent issue that hinders improvement in emergency preparedness capacity for public health works, which is something that has been evident in China for a number of years. In general, there is typically a lack of knowledge about emergency risk communication, negative attitudes towards it, and limited capability among staff. Still, it appears to be the most effective. Therefore, training must be implemented to enhance people’s awareness of emergency and their response capacity. By using appropriate and targeted emergency risk communication, the impact of public health emergencies can be reduced and personal safety and social stability can be promoted in all countries.