Engaging communities to prepare for natural hazards: a conceptual model

Abstract

Natural hazard preparation by communities reduces disaster-induced physical health problems and adverse experiences, lowers potential for post-traumatic stress disorders, and aids faster recovery. However, approaches to community engagement for preparedness vary widely leaving those responsible confused and often overwhelmed. This study builds on natural hazards behavior, community development, participatory, and codesign research to understand current community engagement approaches in an Australian context. Key principles for engaging communities were operationalized from document analysis and interviews with 30 community engagement practitioners from 25 Australian emergency management agencies. A thematic analysis of the agency documents and interviews led to a visualization of the pathway to community-led preparedness with the iterative community-centered engagement model for preparedness. The model reflects both current practice and aspirations. It contributes theoretically to a collaborative community-led engagement approach for risk personalization and protective action by highlighting the need to develop a deep understanding of the specific features of local communities. The model maps a pathway through different levels of community engagement toward the ultimate aim of a community-led approach to natural hazards preparation. It recognizes the changing circumstances and the situation of communities within their environment, and the barriers and enablers to support community-led preparedness. The model is significant in that it delivers a practical framework for engagement practitioners to build capacity in their communities and support their local communities to prepare for natural hazards and build relational capital for longer-term resilience.

A Qualitative Study on the Use of the Hospital Safety Index and the Formulation of Recommendations for Future Adaptations

“…These considerations are key for proper Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management [ 3 ]. Overall, consulting people with local understanding and experiential knowledge has the potential to increase the validity of disaster preparedness assessments [ 42 ].…”

Soutenir le rôle des volontaires émergents lors des catastrophes : Un examen des inondations de 2021 en Colombie-Britannique

“…Intended for collaboration between various civilian non-profit organisations, the model is eminently transferable to emergency management and response activities. Johnston et al (2022) have also developed a five step community-centred engagement model to promote preparedness and ready cadres of emergent volunteers. These steps include 1) community profiling; 2) relational ties and connections; 3) capacity building; 4) community programs; 5) tailoring for local hazards action.…”

“…The model highlights 5 generative steps for community-centred preparedness and the general principles that should guide emergency preparedness. (Johnston et al, 2022)…”

Sociological Trilogy of Cultural Community on Exposure Peril of Monsoon in Western Rural and Urban, Sierra Leone

“…Improving the appropriateness of these perspectives has demonstrated to be effective in mitigating susceptibility and exposure to disasters. Nonetheless, numerous social researches assent that the threshold of cultural community exposure foresight is significantly associated to strength and exposure peril reduction (Nkombi and Wentink, 2022;Que et al, 2022;Johnston et al, 2022). Since these initiatives are developed at proletariat statuses, they are judged germane in generating appropriate responses to the peril of typhoon activated deluge in Western Rural and Urban, Sierra Leone.…”