Community engagement in disaster planning and response recommendations for Hong Kong

This policy brief calls for strengthening community engagement in disaster preparedness and response.

There is broad recognition among agency leaders and citizens of the need to improve community engagement in all aspects of disaster management.

The study shows that community outreach in disasters can be viewed as public education with the aim "to ensure an alert and informed community.” For engagement to be effective, it requires the following steps:

• Understand community needs and vulnerabilities;
• Frame appropriate forms of communications during routine operations;
• Build trust through educational updates in familiar institutions;
• Develop emergency warnings and instructions.