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Communication and Crisis

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Communication and Crisis
Communication and Crisis
Rosa Singleton
HCS/320
[ 12/8/2012 ]
Kristin Thrun

Communication and Crisis

My name is Rosa Singleton. I am the director of the Emergency Management Office in the area of Ohio. Today we have received official reports that the public water supplies for the city of Canton and other nearby cities have become contaminated with a life-threatening biological agent. It is the duty of my staff to implement contingency plans and address them within the organization, and with the public in a way that will not create panic amongst the citizens of Canton and the surrounding cities.

The individuals or groups that will be communicating inside and outside the organization during this crisis situation

When a crisis situation occurs, there has to be a quick response for collecting information concerning the situation. The individuals that will be communicating during this crisis on the inside of this organization are myself, the senior manager of the regional Emergency Management Office, the communications coordinator, and the command coordinator along with the help of outside agencies such as: The State Department of Health, the Red Cross agency, and the media spokesperson (Hicks, 2012).

Potential advantages and challenges associated with communicating within the organization and with the public and private sectors during this crisis situation

When an event like water contamination occurs, it gives an opportunity for emergency teams to work with diverse communities to effectively relay the importance of health communication, and it causes the citizens of those communities to be dependent upon the emergency teams to bring them to a safe place from the crisis. Sometimes a crisis can have good outcomes, and sometimes the outcomes are not as favorable. The advantages that we’re hoping for while communicating with the associations and the public are, that everyone involved receives the correct public health information messages, and



References: Fraser, M. R., & Fisher, V. S. (2001, January). Elements of effective bioterrorism preparedness: A planning primer for local public health agencies. National Association of County and City Health Officials. Retrieved from http://bioterrorism.slu.edu/bt/key_ref/NACCHO/effective.pdf Hicks, N. J. (2012). Health Industry Communication: New Media, New Methods, New Message. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. n.d., (2012, March). Customer Relationship Management and Crisis Management: Proven Emergency Response Strategies for the Public Sector. Oracle. Retrieved from http://www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/crm-and-crisis-management-wp-1560491.pdf Nsiah-Kumi, P. A. (2008). Communicating effectively with vulnerable populations during water contamination events. Journal Of Water & Health, 663-75. doi:10.2166/wh.2008.041

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