The letter highlighted the collaboration as an example of successful engagement between applied research, local crisis management, and community safety.

In recent years, the Crisis Research Centre and MUPO have worked together in several projects and discussions aimed at strengthening city-level crisis preparedness. The cooperation has focused primarily on community-based civil protection, as well as the development of resilience hubs and other initiatives that enhance local readiness for crises.

“Cooperation between researchers, practitioners, and communities is a cornerstone of crisis preparedness – knowledge and experience must complement one another. MUPO has been a very open and dedicated partner in this regard,” noted Anne-May Nagel.

The recognition also underlines a broader principle that the Crisis Research Centre considers central to its mission – crisis preparedness is not solely the task of the state or public agencies, but relies on collaboration, trust, and knowledge-sharing among people and organisations. It is often at the local and community level, supported by scientific insight, where the foundation for effective crisis preparedness is truly built.

The cooperation between the Centre and MUPO demonstrates how research can inform practice and improve decision-making processes, bringing academic knowledge into urban space and everyday security governance.

The Centre for Crisis Studies extends its gratitude to the Tallinn Municipal Police Department for its trust and cooperation and wishes continued success in strengthening urban safety and crisis preparedness in Tallinn.

Photo: presentation of a letter of appreciation (Tallinn Strategy Center/Ellen Rudi, 2025).

The training focused on how every family can be better prepared for unexpected situations, with a particular emphasis on coping with the disruption of essential services such as electricity, water, and heating. Special attention was given to the panel building environment, as Väike-Õismäe is largely made up of 5- and 9-storey apartment buildings that must continue functioning even during crises.

Several important topics were addressed during the evening, including:

• How to create a family crisis plan that takes into account the needs all members of the family;
• What essential supplies should be available at home for managing without help for seven days;
• How to keep the oneself informed during a crisis, and which channels to use for receiving reliable information;
• What should be discussed at the co-operative housing association level?