Perceptions of Threat and Public Response: Shaping Emergency Management Strategies During Prolonged Crises

Introduction: The concept of ‘perceived threats’ in the context of various emergencies captures how populations experience and interpret actual and potential risks. Understanding public perceptions of diverse threats during and after these crises is critical for numerous reasons, from influencing public health behaviors to enhancing community trust and resilience. Methods: The study assessed the Israeli population’s perceptions of varied threats during three types of adversities – the COVID-19 pandemic, a socio-political crisis triggered by a judicial reform process, and a protracted war. Data were collected through internet panels, targeting a representative sample of the Hebrew-speaking Israeli population. Four main risks were surveyed: health, economic, security, and political threats. The findings were analyzed to identify commonalities and diversities in risk perceptions during the different adversities. Results: The findings present that political instability was the highest perceived risk throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the socio-political crisis. Furthermore, the political threat was ranked close to security during the protracted “Iron Swords” war. After 11 months of conflict, the public perceived the political risk as the most severe when ranking the four types of risks. Conclusion: Misalignments between governmental strategies and the public’s risk perceptions can lead to ineffective emergency management. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while government officials focused on the fear of the virus, the public’s concerns centered on political instability. This misalignment resulted in a lower uptake of repeated vaccinations. The study underscores the necessity of understanding public perceptions to tailor emergency responses that are socially sensitive and practically feasible. Enhanced comprehension of these dynamics is pivotal for current and future public health strategies and the overall endurance and recovery of societies from prolonged emergencies.