Results: Action in emergencies

A section dealing with action in emergencies was added to the 2024 survey and repeated in the 2026 round.

Action in emergencies is an important topic, because it is crucial for societal safety and security of supply to monitor different population groups’ trust in instructions from the authorities and their willingness to act as part of society in emergencies.

The statements in this section were formulated to be as concrete and non‑political as possible, without taking any stance on potential threat actors or anything else that might influence respondents’ attitudes towards the statements. One of the two statements presented in the section was modified slightly from the wording used two years ago, which should be taken into account in time series comparisons.

Respondents were informed that the statements presented concerned their actions in a serious emergency (e.g., natural disaster, pandemic, military escalation; Figures x and x). The statements were to be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = completely disagree and 5 = completely agree.

The results remain good, but the mean for both statements has decreased since 2024. The mean readiness to participate as a volunteer in rescue or relief work in the event of a societal crisis fell from 4.5 to 4.1, and the proportion of those responding positively dropped from 87% to 73%. When interpreting this change, the modified wording of the statement must be taken into account: in 2024 the statement was phrased ‘I would be ready to participate in rescue/evacuation work...’, whereas in 2026 the statement was phrased ‘I would be ready to participate as a volunteer in rescue/relief work...’

Trust in instructions from the authorities, for example during relocations or evacuations in a crisis, has also fallen slightly since the measurement two years ago: the mean for the statement dropped from 4.3 to 4.1, and the proportion of those trusting from 81% to 74%.

The results show that the majority trust instructions from the authorities and are ready to participate in voluntary relief work in an emergency, but the proportions have decreased since 2024.

There is no great dispersion in the presented statements when examined by respondents’ background information, which indicates that the trusting attitude is fairly cross‑cutting across the population group. However, trust in instructions from the authorities in crises was lower among those who had lived in Finland the longest: among those who had lived in the country for at least 16 years, the mean was 4.0, whereas among those who had lived there for 5 to 8 years it was 4.4. The same trend is visible in age: among 20–29-year-olds the mean was 4.3 and among 50–69-year-olds 3.9. Readiness to participate as a volunteer was in turn lowest in the oldest age group (3.7) and among women (3.9; men 4.2).

Respondents were also asked in what way instructions from the authorities would reach them best during a crisis or emergency. Nine out of ten respondents estimated that instructions from the authorities would reach them best via text message (90%, Figure 27), so the result is clear. The proportion increased from the 2024 result, which was 82%. The popularity of mobile applications showed the largest increase; this was mentioned by 58% of respondents, whereas in 2024 the proportion was only 30%. Alarm systems were also named as a good channel (32%, previously 28%). By contrast, the proportions for traditional channels fell: television to 14% (previously 21%), media companies’ websites to 15% (previously 19%), and radio to 13% (previously 14%). As a new option, social media was mentioned by 11% of respondents.

In addition, 46 respondents named some other channel in an open‑ended response. Of these, clearly the most common was email, which was mentioned by 30 respondents.

Action and reachability in emergencies

• The results regarding trust in the authorities in an emergency and willingness to participate in rescue/relief work remain positive, but both have decreased since 2024: trust in instructions from the authorities from 4.3 to 4.1 (proportion with strong trust from 81% to 74%) and readiness to participate as a volunteer from 4.5 to 4.1 (proportion agreeing from 87% to 73%).
• Trust in instructions from the authorities in emergencies was lowest among those who had lived in Finland for at least 16 years (4.0) and highest among those who had lived there for 5 to 8 years (4.4). The same trend is visible in age: among 20–29-year-olds 4.3 and among 50–69-year-olds 3.9.
• Ninety per cent rated text messages as the best way to reach them. The popularity of mobile applications increased the most, mentioned by 58% of respondents (2024: 30%), whereas television, radio, and media companies’ websites lost ground.