Ineffective community engagement is again being highlighted as a failing in emergency response planning and engagement.

Recent disaster inquiries, including those examining the Texas floods in the US, have repeatedly highlighted this.

From the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements to state-led reviews of the 2019–20 bushfires and catastrophic flooding events in northern NSW this year, a common theme emerges: governments at all levels struggle to adequately engage with communities before, during, and after emergencies.

These reports reveal significant gaps in early warning systems, unclear communication roles, insufficient community education, and a lack of local knowledge in emergency planning.

While the “Three Rs” of emergency management—Readiness, Response, and Recovery—are foundational, their implementation has often been inconsistent and outdated, particularly in translating policy into practice.

Despite national frameworks and the coordinating efforts of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the effectiveness of these principles heavily relies on state and local governments, whose approaches vary widely.

This is where a thorough understanding of the principles of community engagement and communication planning is as relevant today as it was in the 1990s when greater recognition was given to the community engagement.

Without sustained community engagement, transparent communication, and coordinated planning, emergency strategies fail to protect those they are meant to serve.

To address these persistent weaknesses, governments must initiate a renewed effort to embed the Three Rs within a community-centered, evidence-informed approach that reflects the increasing frequency and complexity of modern emergencies.

To help you navigate the community and strategic engagement model for the Three Rs and what it could look like for your sector email us at robertm@robertmasters.com.au