The aim of the overall project “Crisis-ready local governments – Strategies and instruments for preparing for multiple crises situations” is to strengthen and harden local authorities as key players in crisis and disaster management in civil protection. The research network is investigating how administrations cope with complex situations in urban and rural areas and how the “crisis fitness” of administrations can be increased – not only in relation to disaster control scenarios in peacetime, but also with regard to civil defense threat scenarios.

The sub-project of the Disaster Research Unit, “Crisis-ready local governments – Strategies and instruments for preparing for multiple crises situations,” pursues several research objectives in relation to the overall project. First, it examines specific organizational cultures and structures of local governments in crises and disasters as part of a self-assessment tool to be developed as a joint project. To analyze the context of local government action in crises and disasters, a historical study of past damage situations and threat scenarios is also being conducted. The expectations of the population towards their administration in various crisis and disaster contexts will also be determined. To this end, a representative, Germany-wide survey will be conducted. The population should not only be seen as recipients of aid, but also as active participants in crisis and disaster management. With a focus on the model municipalities, the potential for support from the population for the work of administrations in emergencies will also be examined. The same applies to the potential for optimization of administrations, especially with regard to the use of resources in crises and disasters.

In addition to the aforementioned population survey, the project's methodology is based not only on literature and archival research, but above all on interviews with experts and relevant actors from administration, civil society, and other stakeholders in the model municipalities. Within the consortium, KFS focuses primarily on rural areas.

Throughout the research project, it is important to ensure that the research results are consolidated and put to practical use beyond the project period and the model municipalities. Together with the consortium, the research results will therefore be used to develop recommendations for action, evaluation tools with regard to administrative crisis fitness, and training and continuing education products, among other things. At the scientific level, the research results will be disseminated extensively at relevant conferences, webinar series, and in publications.