Title: Enhancing citizen response to crises through communication: investigating expert views

Authors: Jenni Hyvärinen; Anne Laajalahti; Marita Vos

Addresses: Agora Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla 40014, Finland ' Department of Communication, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla 40014, Finland ' Agora Center/Department of Communication, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla 40014, Finland

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to clarify how citizen response to crises is currently being enhanced, and how it might be increased, by emergency response organisations in member states of the European Union via communication strategies and tools. Data were gathered via an online questionnaire directed at emergency management and crisis communication experts working in the field of crisis response. The experts were drawn from the database of an international conference. The results indicate that while the importance of involving citizens in crisis response is generally acknowledged, the implementation of such activities is often fragmented. Although some initiatives are under way, coherent structures are lacking. It is suggested that the issue needs structural attention and that such efforts need to include a wide range of emergencies, applying regional and cultural specific approaches adapted to local needs.

Keywords: crisis management; community approach; citizen response; crisis communication; emergency response; emergency management; European Union; citizen involvement; regional specific approaches; cultural specific approaches; local needs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2015.074044

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2015 Vol.11 No.4, pp.302 - 319

Received: 02 Apr 2015
Accepted: 21 Sep 2015
Published online: 03 Jan 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article