Partnering With Communities to Build Resilience
April 24, 2025 by Cate Ryba
Every day, communities somewhere in the country face unexpected hardships. It’s inevitable. Storms will come. Structural failures happen. Cyberattacks constantly evolve, testing defenses. The personal and financial toll of these events is often staggering. Local governments must make every effort to plan for these and other challenges, support their residents during the disruption, work to mitigate damage to the community, and then help residents recover.
I want to share some thoughts on how technology helps local governments build more resilient communities, and how partnering with residents and organizations aids this effort.
Data, the Cloud, and Mobile-First Design Grow Resilience
Increasing the flow and quality of information to both local government staff and residents is a crucial step for communities prioritizing resilience. Data-driven decision-making helps local governments understand the needs of their community, enables them to address gaps, and allocate resources in advance. During a crisis, they can quickly respond to residents, providing information or services they need as conditions rapidly change. In the aftermath of a disruption, governments can use data to analyze how their community was impacted, how it responded, and potential improvements for the inevitable next challenge. Artificial intelligence (AI) will increasingly become a part of these data analysis and decision-making processes.
Cloud-based solutions are the best choice for resilient systems. In the cloud, government employees and residents can access government services from any location, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Government operations remain open even if buildings are closed due to fires, storms or public health concerns. Cloud-based solutions are also scalable and flexible to adapt to changing circumstances.
Because 97% of US residents have a mobile phone and immediately reach for them during a crisis, solutions should embrace mobile-first design. SMS alerts, mobile app push notifications, and social media posts allow local governments to deliver real-time communication to residents. In addition, providing a mobile app enables residents to store emergency information on their local devices in case access to data is lost.
Louisiana Residents Get a Game Plan
The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) in Louisiana offers an example of how these solutions benefit residents. GOHSEP worked with Tyler Technologies and used our Resident Engagement Platform — including functionality from My Civic and Engagement Builder — to develop the “Get a Game Plan” app. The app is a digital emergency preparedness guide. It helps users build a custom emergency supply list based on the details of their family. It also sends push notifications with critical information, consolidates emergency numbers, lists the location of shelters, and has links to important social media channels.
During the peak of Hurricane Helene in 2024, there were about 40,000 sessions actively using the app. After the storm passed, residents used it to access Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources, apply for recovery loans, interact with the Small Business Administration (SBA), and more.
Resident Engagement: The Vital Component of Resilience
Resident engagement is key to increasing resilience. When governments have a two-way communication channel with residents, they understand constituents’ real-time needs and concerns. When leaders are planning or evaluating, residents feel heard and involved, which builds trust. Communication and transparency improve peace of mind because residents know their community is prepared and actively improving for the future.
Open communication accelerates government response during a crisis because residents become partners, providing on-the-ground insights. They can amplify messages and relay data. It’s a symbiotic relationship where residents depend on the government for resources and support, and the government relies on the residents for feedback and collaboration.
There are many additional approaches to improving resilience. Agencies can:
- Use inclusive design in their technology solutions
- Foster a culture of innovation within their local government staff to try new approaches to solving problems in a crisis
- Work with an experienced technology partner to ensure tools are in place to support and engage residents
Make an Unbreakable Commitment to Resilience
Local governments that commit to improving resilience help their communities to adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of challenges. Cloud-based solutions and mobile-first design are important pieces of the puzzle. However, the most essential element is for agencies to work closely with residents and organizations in their community before any disruption occurs, forging partnerships that will benefit everyone.