Emergency Risk Communication

Abstract

This chapter talks about a distinction between a crisis and an emergency. Emergencies have their own unique characteristics, including emotions, public actions, credibility and trust, that affect how risk communication is put into practice. The chapter explains some of these characteristics in detail. Planning involves understanding the needs and desires of the community and organizational jurisdictions in an emergency situation, creating and getting approval for a written plan, training staff, educating the public, getting the resources required in the plan, and making sure that the infrastructure is in place to carry it out. The chapter provides guidance on making sure that your organization is ready, teaming with other organizations, working with communities in advance, determining appropriate communication methods, and developing an emergency communication plan. It also provides additional advice on communicating during an emergency and after an emergency.