Jan 31 2025 37 mins
Rinse and repeat, repacked or polished, increased volume or new influencers - all methodologies leveraged by the public sector in attempts to convince the population that their preparedness communications are accurate, helpful and should be adopted.
I’ve spent over a decade examining this very specific phenomenon, what I refer to as “public sector resident-facing preparedness communications”. I’ve conducted and published studies on the message, medium, target audience and a host of variables related to the effort.
I am certain that Preparedness Week / Month this May will have some form of the message that has been summarily ignored by the public:
Have a plan, be informed, build a kit.
In the Canadian context, many provincial or territorial governments will wait to see what Public Safety Canada deems to be this year’s persuasive twist and repeat. Lower tier local governments are conducting EM off the side of their desk, so the innovation, modernization, disruption or otherwise paradigm challenging ideas are off the table.
If we examine the body of knowledge, from indigenous teaching spanning thousands of years to the most recent data, we see a set of correlated variables. The challenge is to separate what we wish to see from the reality. If we examine the available data on populations that experienced significant events, we can then search for individual samples where certain groups were more successful, or in simple terms, had better post event outcomes.
The literature is heterogeneous, which I will assert is a positive, not a problem. Disagreement and inconsistency leads to further examination, often the rationale for additional, nuanced inquiry into the phenomenon. This is not settled science, in fact if anyone uses that term they simply do not understand science. Researchers in each niche are operating within a web of variables, data and opinion. The challenge will always be to seek knowledge and evidence-based recommendations, not what amounts to norm-reinforcing cheerleading.
My research led to the identification of specific variables correlated with better post event outcomes: sense of belonging measured via social capital, personal responsibility for self and community, institutional trust and a subjective view on government communications.
Is there a better strategy, absolutely
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