Mass Notification and Crisis Communications : Planning, Preparedness, and Systems

Mass communication in the midst of a crisis must be done in a targeted and timely manner to mitigate impact and save lives. Based on sound research, real-world case studies, and the author’s own experiences, this volume helps emergency planning professionals create an effective crisis communications plan. It reviews the challenges organizations face during various types of disasters, helps outline the target audience of the communiqué, and describes how to get the right message across the first time. It explores how social media can be a powerful tool in message dissemination and examines the legal landscape to ensure managers are in compliance with regulatory requirements.

Mass communication in the midst of a crisis must be done in a targeted and timely manner to mitigate the impact and ultimately save lives. Based on sound research, real-world case studies, and the author’s own experiences, Mass Notification and Crisis Communications: Planning, Preparedness, and Systems helps emergency planning professionals create a crisis communications plan that works by establishing upfront relationships with responders, enacting protocols, and utilizing technology to effectively message the intended audience.

Providing communication best practices to professionals, the book:

• Reviews the challenges organizations face with communications in the face of various types of disasters
• Helps to outline the target audience of the communiqué
• Describes different communication techniques used throughout history during peace and wartime
• Provides methods for getting the right message across the first time
• Explores how social media can be a powerful tool in message dissemination
• Examines the legal landscape to ensure managers are in compliance with international, federal, state, and local regulatory requirements

Aligned with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Emergency Communications Plan—as well as the U.S. strategic plan to improve emergency response communications—the book provides recommendations to key decision makers given all considerations that must be weighed and factored in during a crisis.