Island community:
Storm & power cut
Items already in place: Sheep, trees, ferry terminal, church
Possible items to add: Pub, lighthouse museum, school, fish factory, library, small shop, community hall, nurse’s office, voluntary-led fire station
Crisis: Power cut following a storm
Step 1 - Start
Facilitator instructs: Choose 3 items (group decision) to create your ideal resilient island community (list the items above for inspiration).
(Time: 5 min)
Step 2 - Crisis
Facilitator reads: A storm has cut all connections to the mainland, including power and internet. Once the storm has passed and it’s safe to move outside, you want to venture out to talk with your neighbours (other group members) and find out what is going on and what is being done to repair damages.
First task
Facilitator reads: Where do you go to look for information about the extent of damages and plans to repair them? Who do you want to talk with? You can only choose the buildings that are represented on the ground. Discuss as a group but possible to make individual decisions. Move your characters to this location.
(Time: 10 min.)
Second task
Facilitator reads: After wandering for a while, you find out that it will take at least 48 hours for electricity to return. You hear that your elderly relative might run out of drinking water by then, and so you want to know whether someone has organised drinking water distribution somewhere. Who do you think could have organised something like this—officially or unofficially? Where is a probable place to go to look for it? Discuss as a group but it is possible to make individual decisions. Move your character to this location.
(Time: 5 min.)
Third task (optional)
Facilitator reads: You wish to help with repair work, but you have lost track of your neighbours while trying to find drinking water. Where do you think that people would have convened to organise themselves (without authorities)?
(Time: 5 min.)
Step 3 - Rebuilding stage
Facilitator reads: The power is back on, ferry is running and your little island was granted some money from the national rebuilding fund! This allows you to invest in one more infrastructure item. Looking back at your experiences during the storm power cut, what should you add to the island?
(Time: 5 min.)
Step 4 - Final thoughts
Facilitator reads: Prepare to tell the learnings from your community to the moderator (one group member represents the group). Think about the following questions as a group: Why did you chose the locations that you did? Was it easy or difficult to make the choices? Who seemed like someone you can trust in the situation you were in? Did you feel like it would be possible to find them? Think about your real-life community: do you think you would make similar choices in the same situation there?
(Time: 10 min.)
Step 5 - Discussion round
The table attends final discussion round with other tables to compare processes. This step can also be done with a moderator.
