OPENING LINES COMMUNITY TRUST IS A FIREFIGHTER’S GREATEST ASSET Source: https://www.americancityandcounty.com/, Robbi King, First Published 5th November 2024 Firefighters are society’s first line of defense against natural disasters. When catastrophes like wildfires, floods or earthquakes ensue, these professionals aren’t just tasked with preventing the disaster from spreading; they’re also responsible for keeping community members safe from harm and maintaining order under high-stress situations. As climate change wreaks havoc on the planet, both the impact and frequency of severe weather events are growing by the day. Firefighters are leaders in their communities charged with setting expectations during emergency situations, but this takes significant relationship-building and cultivating the trust of residents. The burden on firefighters will only increase as climate change persists. That means they need ample resources and training to ensure they’re fully equipped to keep their communities safe when disasters unfold. Let’s explore how firefighters can use risk management strategies to stay prepared and build trust with the folks they’re responsible for protecting. WHY DOES TRUST MATTER? While firefighters are the ones doing the grunt work during natural disasters, the community at large has an important role to play, too. Preventing a fire from spreading or conducting a risky search and rescue is already difficult enough without facing pushback from community members. Nobody wants to evacuate their home before a storm, or be told that it’s unsafe for firefighters to enter a burning building because the flames have left it structurally unsound. But disaster response is a coordinated effort, which means it requires buy-in from everyone who might be affected. In my tenure as a firefighter, for example, I encountered homeowners who were unhappy to see firefighters cutting holes in their roof while a fire raged below. And I never blamed them—who wants to see even more damage done to their home during a fire? This is why it’s imperative for fire services professionals to be accessible members of the community. We attend public events and meetings as a way of both educating folks on the ins and outs of disaster response and making ourselves available to answer pressing questions. It’s a simple way to foster relationships with the people we serve, set expectations, and let them know that everything we do during a disaster is, ultimately, in their best interest. PREPARING THE COMMUNITY FOR EVERY SCENARIO As a former firefighter, I can confidently say that becoming better risk managers is crucial for navigating changing environmental conditions. Evaluating the potential impact of storms is the best place to start. As a department, begin by identifying the risks specific to your region. For coastal communities like mine, this looked like educating locals and our internal team on the risks of tropical storms and hurricanes. 13 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 11
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