The Crisis-Ready Research Group focuses on how societies can better prepare for, respond to, and recover from complex disasters in an era of compounding risk. This focus area examines disaster preparedness and resilience not only as technical or logistical challenges, but as problems of coordination, trust, governance, and collective action under sustained stress.

Drawing on expertise from emergency management, public safety, political science, and crisis leadership, this work analyzes how disasters unfold across institutions, communities, and information environments. Particular attention is paid to how social cohesion, public trust, and institutional legitimacy shape response effectiveness during prolonged, nationwide emergencies.

This focus area is anchored in the Crisis-Ready book project, which brings together scholars and practitioners with direct experience in disaster governance and emergency response. Building

on lessons from recent large-scale emergencies, the research translates empirical insights into practical guidance for improving disaster planning, coordination, and resilience in Canada.