Free Essay

Communication and Crisis Paper

In:

Submitted By stitch2
Words 1558
Pages 7
Communication and Crisis Paper
A crisis situation reports indicate that the water supply is contaminated with a life threatening biological agent in several towns and this department is handling the emergency crisis with this situation. Our department is handling the communication method of handling this crisis and informing the public of this threat and the steps they need to take to protect themselves and their families. Communication in this crisis will be crucial to keep the public calm and to present the information they will need. The media is a major source that our department is using to get our message out to the public. However, our office must be careful to prevent the media from creating a panic.
Our department will be coordinating with the Emergency Operations Center, The State Emergency Management Center, Department of Health Services, Department of Natural Resources, state, and local police officials and the volunteer organizations. The uses of these internal departments will coordinate the information that will be release in this crisis situation. Updates from state and local police, firefighters, and the National Guard will keep this department updated on the current developments that is occurring in the affected areas. Our departments will coordinate all communications so information is correctly given to departments and news releases to the public. This will control and give this crisis situation the effective outcome and keep fear at a minimum ("Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs Division of Emergency Management," 2013).
The state government notification will be to our office when they have requested emergency assistance from the federal government. Communications with all federal government specifically FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency and NEMA, National Emergency Management Association is directed through this office. Our department is coordinating the efforts of all agencies to administer effectively aid to the public.
Communications between government and state agencies are the key to a successfully handled crisis situation. Federal governments are not allowed just to step into a state crisis situation. The state must make an official request to the federal government to receive federal agencies to intervene and render assistance. In the situation with Hurricane Katrina, communication between local, state, and federal governments completely broke down which cause catastrophe to occur in the crisis situation. Guidelines are firmly in place with our water contamination procedures. Our department will be in direct contact with state officials at every juncture of this crisis situation. Our crisis plan has taken into consider the possibility of the breakdown of communication, transportation, supplies, and manpower are at the ready if the water crisis should become out of control and the public needs emergency help. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the crisis center emergency plans is now updated and a revised plans to include the contingency plan to make all federal, state, and local personnel available to response to this crisis ("The Katrina Breakdown," 2011).
All press releases, news interviews, and messages are scripted in our office and will customize each incident and area of occurrence along with the recommended action and shelters for the public to use, along with the local and toll free numbers for the affected public to contact to receive additional information and instructions. Our message needs to be short but needs to include all the appropriate information. Our department has elected one spokesperson who will be responsible for make all television and radio reports to the media ("7 Tips for Delivering Effective Emergency Notification," 2013).
The information department is setting up our website to include all necessary information pertain to this crisis. A team of public relations people is online with all affected areas giving out needed information and reassuring the public that the situation is under control and all necessary steps were taken to resolve this crisis. Our website has posted links to all the volunteer organizations to the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army for the public to contact for immediate needs such as food and bottled water ("7 Tips for Delivering Effective Emergency Notification," 2013.)
The technicians have set up for all our mass communications methods that include text, e-mailing, voice, social media, radio communications, and connects to all mobile emergency units. These communications are tied into together so every agency is aware of the situation that is developing ("7 Tips for Delivering Effective Emergency Notification," 2013.)
The advantages of communication in any crisis situation to maintain control of the situation and inform both inside departments, local, state, and federal agencies, and the public is the ultimate goal in a crisis situation. Giving the public and private sectors a succinct explanation of what went wrong and the steps we are taking will help to contain the situation will help to maintain calm and control of panic. Our concern for the public’s health and safety will be the number one priority. In ensure the public that we are taking all necessary steps to control and fix the problem will be in our delivered in our communications. Showing the public that we are confident and in control of the situation is also an advantage in excellent communication ("How to Communicate in A Crisis," 2010.)
Another area of communication we are responsible for are the scientists and public workers in the field containing and fixing the contaminated water supply. Keeping open communication with these workers will also give us a status report of the severity of the contamination. This information is necessary to help resolve this crisis.
A disadvantage that our office is preparing for are the potential for disruption in our cell phone and social media communications. Another potential problem that can occur is overload of the 911 system. Overloads can also occur in our social media with the disruption of IP address and servers overloading with excessive actively. An old traditional way of communication is to use ham radio operators. Emergency ham radio operators are in place and have had extensive training in dealing with all types of emergency crisis (Goslow, 2005.)
As the saying goes “it’s all in the wording.” Mistakes in the Three-Mile Island incident were in the communication wording that the facility official used in its releases to the officials and the public. Generalization in the severity of the crisis can have a serious and disastrous outcome. In a crisis situation, keep the explanations simple and with language that the majority of people will understand. Frighten people will overreact to any information and pick up on any negativity shown by all public officials. Reassuring the public is another obstacle to be concerned about. People do not always believe when a crisis has passed. Communications in the reporting will help people to realize when the crisis period has passed. However, over reassuring the public can lead to a negative reaction to a crisis situation. People can read into official’s expression and body language when there is still concern over a situation ("The Communications Failures Lessons of Three Mile Island," 2009.)
As mentioned earlier, the use of technology in our communications will help to resolve this situation and to care for the public. Broadcasting health messages to the nation for precautions the public may need to take and symptoms of the biological agent is another form of communication used to benefit the public. Our department will put all medical information regarding this biological agent on our websites and make the information available to the public and private sectors. All hospitals and the medical community are aware of the water contaminated biological agent and to take measures for the treatment of the public. The medical community is using all of their knowledge and technology to care for the effect people and to take all actions to treat and help prevent sickness or death (du Pre, 2004.)
Social media is the forum that the public will use to communicate in any crisis situation. Our people are monitoring all forms of social media to determine the mindset and attitude of the public. In past crisis situations, the news media was reporting the unfolding events as they were happening and officials did not take notice of the reaction to the public. They missed many signs of problems unfolding in the nation that could have been acted upon and dealt with. Our plan is to keep our eyes and ears open to the mood of the nation to prevent any rise in public panic. New technology is emerging every day and emergency management is staying connected to that new technology. Public emergency workers will use the new technology to utilize lifesaving information to protect and help the public who is affected ("Communities of Interest Emergency Communications," 2013.)
Our office spokesperson will hold a news conference with the media daily to report the situation, progress, and official reports to public. The state and local police, along with our office will make the determination if additional news briefs are required.
Our office will take every step available to communicate to all agencies, the departments in this organization, and to the public the necessary information to control and deal with this water contaminating biohazard agents. Our communication methods will educate the public and keep in contact with all agencies in the ongoing situation. Our emergency crisis plan is in place and all employees are trained to utilize the plan to its fullest potential during this crisis. The design is to save lives.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Communication and Crisis Paper

...Assignment: Communication and Crisis paper When it comes to a certain matter or even and crisis at the time an individual should have an essential communication method to keep thing in order and under control with others by not trying to creating a panic attack at all. But there are so many different kinds of communications methods that can be used for a certain matter at the time with a difficult situation that is going on that very moment another thing also to is an communication method can be very effective without any type of creating a panic attack about things that are on the radio station and the social media along with the television stations that is dealing with the emergency management office that is getting information about a certain report in the town of the areas That might have life threatening matter at the time. The main purpose of my paper will be covering the contingency plans with many organization and the public as well also to without trying to creating a panic attack with the community also you find in my paper how all groups and individuals are communicating with one another outside of the organization crisis and the potential advantages along with the challenges inside of the public eye of the crisis matter or situations at the time in a certain place or town that can improve a lot more of better communication skills. In the healthcare field today that could be more incorporate when using all of these different types of technology inside of the media...

Words: 547 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Communication and Crisi Paper

...Communication and Crisis Paper Communication and Crisis Paper Lillian Williams University Of Phoenix Abstract Crisis management is a very critical organization function. If failed it can result in extreme harm to stakeholders, extreme loss for the organization, and/or end the very existence of the organization. Having public relations practitioners are an important part of crisis management teams. A lot books have been written about crisis management by both the practitioners and the researchers from many different disciplines making it a challenge to take in what all we know about crisis management and public relations’. Communication and Crisis Paper Effective crisis management handles any of the threats sequentially. The most important concern in a crisis must to the safety of the public. Failure to address the safety of the public increases the damage from a crisis. Reputation and financial concerns will be considered after the safety of the public has been remedied. Ultimately, crisis management was designed to protect an organization and its stakeholders from any threats or to reduce the impact felt by the threats. Prevention of a crisis involves seeking to reduce the known risks that would lead to the crisis. This would be part of an organization’s risk management program. Preparation of a crisis involves: creating a crisis management plan, selecting and training for the crisis with management team, and doing exercises to test the crisis management plan...

Words: 1467 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Communication Crisis Paper

...Communication and Crisis Paper HCS/320 August 28,2014 Terri De Wees Communication and Crisis Paper There is no immunity to crisis for a company. Wither it be a business corporation or a hospital there is always the possibility of crisis. If any company feels that they are in fact immune to crisis they are putting themselves and company in danger. The only way to keep your company afloat after the crisis is to plan ahead; this will help keep your company ahead of the situation. "Companies must take a proactive stance and use forward-thinking crisis management planning as a positive tool to manage their business and lessen the impact of crisis situations” (Maturi, 2011). The Regional Emergency Management Office has received official report that the public water supplies of several towns in the area have become contaminated with a life threating biological agent. As the director for our company I understand that contamination in our water supply is a complicated situation and we are working hard to find a way to better the circumstances. Biological agents are life treating and have the possibility of negatively impact human health. The affects this can have on your health are serious medical conditions that can lead to death. The symptoms that we ask our public to be aware of are nose bleeds, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. If you at anytime Reference Maturi, R. J. (2011). Managing Crisis Situations: No Company is Immune - How to Deal with...

Words: 263 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Communication and Crisis Paper

...Communication and Crisis Paper HCS/320 Dr. Patricia Bird April 22, 2013 The nuclear reactor that malfunctioned, in the Three Mile Island created a release of radiation into the environment which caused a crisis. It drew a lot of media and created concerns in the local area and beyond. A traditional form of technology can be used to notify the public, television networks and local radio stations were used. Compared to the crisis that took place in 2005, Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the New Orleans area, immersing many parts of the city under water causing trauma to families, the strategy for communication used was the internet, which reached a greater number of the public in less time. As a director of a regional Emergency Management office if I were to start receiving official reports that the public water supplies of several towns in the area have become contaminated with a life-threatening biological agent, the strategy I would use to start a contingency plan that would address my organization and the public without creating panic would be to send an immediate email to all staff to attend an emergency, mandatory meeting. Employees who are unable to attend because of emergency situations will have access to videoconference. I would get one our communication specialist in the company to give a presentation reminding our organization’s staff of our organization’s emergency policies and procedures in the event of...

Words: 1064 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Crisis Communication Critique Paper

...On January 29, 2015, Anthem Healthcare learned of a cyber attack on their Information Security systems. This affected almost 80 million customers and employees. The information they believed that has been hacked are names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, health care ID numbers, home addresses, email addresses, employment information, including income data. They have no reason to believe credit card or banking information was compromised, nor is there evidence from this time that medical information such as claims, test results, or diagnostic codes, was targeted or obtained (anthemfacts.com) Anthem showed concern by contacting the FBI immediately and reporting the issue. The FBI praised their follow-up efforts. I believe this is showing credibility; an expression of sympathy such as this reduces the number of claims against an organization (Cardon, 2014). Anthem has created a website, www.anthemfacts.com that their customers and previous customer's pertinent information regarding the breach. They have also teamed up with All Clear ID, a leading and trusted identity protection provider, to offer 24 months of identity theft repair and credit monitoring services to current or former members of an affected Anthem plan dating back to 2004 (anthemfacts.com). AllClear ID is ready and standing by if you need identity repair assistance. This service is automatically available to you with no enrollment required. If a problem arises, simply call and a dedicated investigator will...

Words: 899 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Fdfs

... Dr. Baker Communication and Crisis Paper September 10, 2012 Communication and Crisis Paper 2 On August 28, 2005 a nuclear reactor that malfunctioned, in the Three Mile Island created a release of radiation into the environment which caused a crisis. However, it drew a lot of media and created concerns in the local area. There were traditional form of technology by which was used to notify the public, television networks and local radio stations were also used. Compared to the crisis that took place in 2005, Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the New Orleans area, immersing many parts of the city under water causing trauma to families, the strategy for communication that was used are the internet, which reached a greater number of the public. As a director of a regional Emergency Management office if I started receiving official reports that the public water supplies of several towns in the area have become exposed with a life-threatening biological agent, the strategy I would use to start a contingency plan that would address my organization and the public without creating panic would be to send an immediate email to all staff to attend an emergency, mandatory meeting. Employees who are unable to attend because of emergency situations will have access to video conference. I would notify one of our communication specialists in the company to give a presentation about...

Words: 1234 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Dfdkwfjnwekjfwef

...BA 2196: Business Communications Syllabus Instructor: Dr. Larry Bailis Email: lbailis@temple.edu Office: Speakman 208K Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday 4:30 – 5:30, or by appointment Course Objectives You will learn useful and relevant business communication skills, including: * how to write clearly and how to effectively edit your own writing * how to target a results-oriented business audience using business documents, websites, and correspondence * how to formulate reasoned oral arguments and enhance your presentations * strategies to enhance critical thinking and analytical skills The Fox School understands that our graduates must meet the highest standards in these skills, and this course will be demanding. Fox BBA Learning Goals Business Communications supports the following Fox Bachelor of Business Administration Learning Goals: 1. Apply critical thinking to business problems a. Use cross-disciplinary knowledge to identify problems and their causes, generate alternative solutions, and arrive at reasoned conclusions. 2. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication a. Formulate reasoned arguments orally. b. Formulate reasoned arguments in written communication. c. Apply team-work and communication skills to present and support conclusions. 3. Understand the ethical, legal, and social responsibilities of individuals and organizations. a. Understand ethical issues. b. Assess the impact of...

Words: 2729 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Comunication and Crisis Paper Week 5 Hcs 320

...| Communication Crisis Paper | Chyvonne Daniels | | HCS 320 | 9/22/2014 | Polly Hanson | When it comes to a certain matter or even and crisis at the time an individual should have an essential communication method to keep things in order and under control with others by not trying to creating a panic attack at all. But there are so many different kinds of communications methods that can be used for a certain matter at the time with a difficult situation that is going on that very moment. Another thing also to is an communication method can be very effective without any type of creating a panic attack about things that are on the radio station and the social media along with the television stations that is dealing with the emergency management office that is getting information about a certain report in the town of the areas That might have life threatening matter at the time. The main purpose of my paper will be covering the contingency plans with many organization and the public as well also to without trying to creating a panic attack with the community also you find in my paper how all groups and individuals are communicating with one another outside of the organization crisis and the potential advantages along with the challenges inside of the public eye of the crisis matter or situations at the time in a certain place or town that can improve a lot more of better communication skills. In the healthcare field today that could be more incorporate when...

Words: 1605 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Communication

...Communication and Crisis Paper Virginia Pirtle University of Phoenix HCS 320 Dorthy Glisson, MSN, RN May 28, 2013 Communication and Crisis Paper In this paper I will be writing about a director of a regional Emergency Management has received official reports that the public water supplies of several towns have become contaminated. The director will address how technology might be used. The different ways the groups will be communicating inside and outside the organization. Also the difference in communication processes used in this crisis situation. The potential advantages and challenges associated with communicating within the organization. You will also read about the different media opportunities during the management crisis. As a director of a regional Emergency Management Office I have been receiving reports that the public water supplies of several towns in the area have become contaminated with life threating biological agents. It is my duty to address this to the organizations without causing a panic. I will allow one spoke’s person to talk about the crisis and answer any question. This spoke’s person will tell the truth and the facts and do it in a fast manner. I will also form a crisis team; the team will involve individuals who are the key to the crisis. Once the team is formed each team member will be educated on his or her responsibilities. I will also have the spokes person schedule a press conference with the media to inform the public what is going...

Words: 303 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Communication and Management Crisis

...Communication to Manage Crisis HCS/320 Communication to Manage Crisis Those who work in hospitals have to face crisis. It may happen in the emergency room or even in the manager’s office. Hospital employees need to be ready for such events. Coombs 1999 states that no organization can guarantee that they will not have any crisis. According to Reynolds 2006, crisis may occur internally or externally for the organization but when it occurs people’s lives may be at stake and at the same time the reputation of the company may get jeopardized. During crisis communication as well as improper communication can play a great role. For lack of communication right things may not be done and crisis may occur. Even a rumor may spread and crisis may happen. Communication methods to be adopted during a crisis have been talked about a lot but defining crisis is not so easy. According to Heath 2006, before defining the crisis, the risks need to be identified. According to him a risk may have both negative and positive influences of different levels. If anything happens to people, communication with them can tell us a lot and it can be understood whether crisis can be overcome. Whether reputation can be left intact needs to be understood. I am acting as the director of the Regional Emergency Office and I got reports about the public water that had been infected with something fatal. The pollutant is a biological element that has life threatening effect. We know that biological agents...

Words: 1677 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Crisis Management Communication Plan

...Crisis Management Communication Plan HCS/350 11 Nov 2013 Crisis Management Crises are events that have the ability to threaten the viability of the organizations within which they occur. Crises are extraordinary events with great potential to do harm to people, businesses, and organizations. Crisis management consists of three distinct phases: crisis prevention, crisis response, and recovery from the crisis. This paper will focus on the communication that is used during the management of a crisis. It will briefly describe how communication dynamics differ in times of crises, ways to reduce stress during a crisis, and ways to resolve communication challenges. Communication Dynamics Communication dynamics may differ during times of crisis, mass trauma, or disaster simply because of the stress levels that are associated with them and the staff members that are affected during the situation as well. Resolution of communication problems requires creativity (Pearson & Sommer, 2011). The more creative the staff is, the quicker they can resolve the issue at hand and communicate more effectively. If a staff member who is normally quiet and well-mannered becomes loud, irritable, and aggressive during a crisis this can disrupt the entire team. If there is more than one staff member who has a personality or demeanor that changes during a crisis it will create chaos in the department. The department manager needs to know of these possible changes and have a way to circumvent...

Words: 855 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Crisis Management Plan

...Crisis Management Plan Jessica Fullerton University of Phoenix Healthcare Communication HCS 350 Professor Ricki-Beth Horowitz Crisis Management Plan In this paper, I will describe a crisis management communication plan for a hospital, which I am familiar with as I work at a hospital. First there will be a discussion about how communication may be effected during a crisis or disaster. Then I will describe three ways to manage stress while in a situation like this. Lastly, I will walk through three ways to resolve potential challenges in communication, caused by tumultuous situations as described. Crises can be defined as: a natural disaster, such as earthquakes or hurricanes; an attack, any sort of improvised device causing casualties; or even chemical warfare. There are many variations of crises defined in, The Essentials of Public Health Preparedness (Katz, 2013). In a hospital during a crisis, we are expecting to see an influx in patients, sometimes overwhelming amounts, during times of crisis it is important to maintain effective communication. Hospitals are in constant communication with regional medical authorities; these systems help alert a broader network to the needs of the community at large. On a smaller scale the Hospital Emergency departments are in communication over radio with local police and fire departments, this communication is critical for the hospital to function properly. Allowing the hospital to know when critical patients are entering the...

Words: 876 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Hcs/320

...(Individual) Communication and Crisis Paper Yahaira Jorge HCS/320 January 13, 2014 Ms. Tricia Tran Communication and Crisis  My name is Yahaira Jorge and I am the director of the regional Emergency Management Office. We have begun to receive official reports of contaminated water with a life-threatening biological agent. As director, I have many priorities in getting this situation under control, but most importantly will need to be in communication with all the organizations involved. Putting our crisis plan into immediate effect will hopefully keep everything organized. The ultimate goal will be to get the information out to the public with a plan, swiftly but making sure not to create panic along the way. Also making sure to get the support from our fire departments and police officers to participate in giving bottles of water to our people not to get sick and ill from this contaminated water. A quick response is very important in a crisis situation. In order to have a quick response, a crisis plan is necessary. A crisis plan will vary from institution to institution, but most will follow similar guidelines. First and foremost, notifications of the situation or event to communications lead, or second in command. This is important because if there is a delay in getting the information to a higher person in command, that could create a bigger mess than needed. Secondly, notify the institution leaders and staff, and ancillary management. Making sure the appropriate...

Words: 375 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Communication Crisis

...Communication Crisis Carolyn Ervin HCS/320 February 20, 2015 Marina Voronin This paper will touch bases on individuals and are groups that communicate inside and outside this organization, potential advantages and challenges, and private and public sectors in this crisis situation. This paper will also address the different crisis situation in communication process the appropriate technology, and how technology can be used as well as media opportunities in this crisis situation. Today, the Director of the Regional Emergency Management Office I have been receiving reports concerning the public waters that might have become contaminated, and possibly have life threatening biological agents. Due to the reports of the water being contaminated that is tremendously fragile situation, and there are lives in danger. In the reports there are families that are in the hospital because of the contaminated water supply. Right, now we are unable to determine how the water was even polluted. Furthermore, while we look into this there are symptoms you want to look for such as, severe abdomen pain, headache, vomiting, nose bleed, diarrhea, and blurred vision. There is an emergency plan to have the city water supply back to drinking where it should be as well as for the other areas. There will be a brief meeting to make sure that for our community this crisis must be taken care of immediately. So, that the people can be at ease. But, however, as the Director of the Regional Emergency...

Words: 504 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Crisis Communication of Saudi Ministry of Health

...Introduction In the 24th of December in 2015, a fire started in one of public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The hospital is called Jazan General Hospital, in Jazan city located in the southwestern region. It is a governmental hospital that belongs to the ministry of health of Saudi Arabia. The fire was tragic, caused the death of 25 people and 127 injuries. The crisis grabbed media attention and different official entities in Saudi Arabia. This report will describe the situation and analyze the communication management of this crisis, how the ministry handled it, the communication effectiveness and some ethical issues. In addition, the report will provide some recommendations to handle such crisis. Situation Description Crisis Situation Overview The hospital in which the fire happened is located in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. That region has a low population number. The fire started early morning on Thursday, the 24th of December 2015. The tragedy is high, as 25 people died and 127 were injured. The numbers are big and that caused the incident to be considered as a national disaster. People in social media such as Tiwtter and Facebook started talking about the fire. Videos and pictures were spread around and people shared them. Some citizens volunteered to rescue people from the fire and help in evacuation. Initial response from the ministry was to acknowledge the fire incident. It stated also that the evacuation of children was successful and all children...

Words: 2386 - Pages: 10