Voluntary citizen support activities in the response phase of a disaster

The response given by Maltese citizens most often was that they would offer voluntary help to the Civil Protection Department, NGO's and/or neighbours in need: “Help and ask". Here, the participants' general attitude was that in such a situation everyone could help by using their personal and/or professional skills, and not only those who are trained in medical aid: “I think everyone could use their skill set”, “a person who is like a builder”, “perhaps an electrician”, “if someone is able to drive they can pick up a group of people and take them to hospital”, or “even simply leadership – in all that chaos you could be the person who does not panic and use that skill to help your family and those around you. That skill helps”.

Cultural Factors: Worldviews, Attitudes toward authorities

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations, Man-made intentional hazards

Disaster Phases: Recovery, Response

Types of Actors Concerned: Government, Red Cross, NGOs, Healthcare and emergency services, Active citizens, National civil protection body, Local authorities

Recommendations:

• Develop guidelines for disaster practitioners that take into consideration the different needs of and approaches to different ethnical groups
• Foster the adoption of a culture of disaster prevention and resilience by informing and motivating citizens to take action