One major difference between the US approach to resilient communities and what the UK Government is doing here centres on personal responsibility. While both FEMA and CCS  make explicit the importance of individuals and communities being prepared for emergencies, so that first responders can treat those most in need in the event of an emergency, the similarity stops there.

The Government suggests that the National Risk Register is a resource that 'is intended to encourage public debate on security and help organisations, individuals, families and communities, who want to do so, to prepare for emergencies'.  (My italics) - i.e: people won't be forced to prepare for emergencies. Implicit in this sentence is that while responsibility for preparing for emergencies lies with individuals and communities - they will not be held responsible if they don't do anything.

This is quite a different message from FEMA as the video belows shows. Barry Scanlon a former official at FEMA urges people to be responsible for preparing for emergencies. I won't make any judgements yet on the two approaches but I do wonder what the effects these two different approaches are on communities in the long term?

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