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Policy Brief - Community Engagement in Disaster Planning and Response: Recommendations for Hong Kong
Policy Brief - Community Engagement in Disaster Planning and Response: Recommendations for Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a dynamic high-income city with robust disaster preparedness. Within government and non-government agencies, contingency plans and disaster drills have been carefully considered and rehearsed. However, a significant gap exists in community awareness and engagement in disaster preparedness activities. Based on one of the findings of the Scoping Study, there is a broad recognition among agency leaders and the community of the need to improve community engagement in all aspects of disaster management. This policy brief provides insights on how to lay a foundation of community engagement in Hong Kong.
Effective community outreach in disasters requires understanding community needs and vulnerabilities; framing appropriate forms of communications during routine operations; building trust through educational updates in familiar institutions; and developing emergency warnings and instructions. Viewed narrowly as public education, “the aim is to ensure an alert and informed community.” HKJCDPRI could play key roles in creating reliable and recognized information hubs, training professionals and having disaster drills integrating communities, including schools and businesses. These could improve knowledge, increase self-efficacy, lower anticipatory anxiety and foster trust in government procedures.
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