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What communities and leaders must do to be ready when an unexpected crisis hits.

BY INC. CUSTOM STUDIO

From left: Fast Company moderator Julianne Pepitone discussed crisis management with Dr. Sam Brody and Dr. Amy Waer in a recent panel hosted by Texas A&M University.

Between 1980 and 2024, the U.S. experienced more than 400 major weather-related disasters that caused losses of more than $1 billion. Nearly 1 in 3 of those events happened during the five years prior to and including 2024. But as communities cope with rising threats of disaster, they also have access to more powerful technologies, scientific breakthroughs, and improved techniques to respond when crisis hits.

Recently, Fast Company and Texas A&M University hosted a panel to discuss the efforts being made to build a safer, more resilient world. Two leaders in disaster preparedness, medicine, and crisis-response talked about how preparedness-centered training, data-driven decision-making, and hardy systems can help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises. Here are four key takeaways from the conversation. (Some quotes have been edited for length and clarity; scroll to the bottom to watch the entire panel discussion.)

Be prepared—and flexible
Often, communities that successfully manage crises aren’t lucky—they’re well prepared. And they know that staying prepared requires work. That includes ensuring their infrastructure, policies,........

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