What water insecurity teaches us about disaster preparedness
Original story by Marc Yaggi
For billions of people around the world, lack of reliable access to safe, sufficient, and affordable water is a persistent and growing reality. This is known as water insecurity. And it doesn’t just mean water is unavailable. It also includes water that is unsafe to drink, too expensive to afford, or too far away to reach. It affects daily life, physical and mental health, livelihoods, and even how people perceive their ability to withstand disasters.
A new study, co-authored by Waterkeeper Alliance’s Marc Yaggi and Wrigley Institute faculty affiliate Wändi Bruine de Bruin, examines key characteristics of people who reported water insecurity. The analysis uncovered crucial insights for disaster communications targeting this group. Based on responses from over 125,000 individuals across 121 countries, the findings offer vital lessons on how to communicate about risks like floods, storms, and droughts, especially to those who are most vulnerable.
Insights include:
- People who’ve experienced water insecurity feel less prepared for natural disasters overall, and are less likely to trust the preparedness of their local governments, national governments, or nearby hospitals.
- All individuals trust local news and emergency responders most as sources of accurate information during a disaster. But people who’ve experienced water insecurity are more likely than others to also trust religious leaders or celebrities.
- Especially for people who’ve experienced water insecurity, severe weather is a bigger worry than climate change. This is likely because people experience severe weather as something concrete and immediate, while climate change is a broader and more abstract concept.