Holding on to Trust in the Face of Disasters
When disaster strikes, the media and the public can rapidly lose trust in those responsible for managing risk. How can decision-makers hold on to trust in an unfolding crisis, when they themselves face so much uncertainty? This session presents highlights from research and practice on public trust in government and other stakeholders in the context of flood risks, drawing on recent studies in Japan, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines. Then the session turns the challenge over to the audience. In a “choose your own adventure” story of a flood threatening a Japanese city, participants will take on the role of the Mayor and decide when and how much to communicate to the public and the media as the crisis unfolds. Will the Mayor and municipal team be able to retain the trust and support of the public and journalists as they struggle to manage the flood?
Organized by: National University of Singapore – Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk and University of Tokyo – Institute of Industrial Science
