This short piece explains how our ties to other people (social capital) affect if we survive and thrive during emergencies. Research on the 2019–20 Australian summer bushfires shows that areas where social connections were strong, communities suffered less and recovered faster.
Parks, playgrounds, public spaces, schools, community centres, places of worship, coffee shops, shopping malls, pubs and clubs are spaces where people can connect with others. Relationships with people from different groups beyond close family and friends are built. These bridging ties are the most critical to community resilience because, by connecting to people different from us, we gain new insights, information and access to resources.