Communication and Crisis Paper Essay

A crisis is an position that exceeds a persons normal copying ability Du Pr (2005). When unexpected, sudden concomitants occur it affects a community. When things happen that we be not prep ard for, it lowlife create chaos and negative outcomes lav occur. maven of the approximately common unexpected situations is natural disaster, when nature decides to unexpectedly show us what it is capable, some quantifys it whoremonger be devastating. However, man made disaster can also occur and cause just as much devastation. Hurricane Katrina and The Three sea ml Island nuclear reactor are great examples of disasters that ca employ great alarm and devastation. These cardinal were deal antithetical and communicated in unlike ways to the public because of the technology and resources available at the time it happen. As a film director of a regional Emergency Management Office, development these two scenarios as learning experience allow for help create a plan to address within th e organic law as swell up as with the public to try to use best practices to avoid same mistakes in secern to be successful at communicating tho not alarming the community.It willing be important to take into consideration the types and tolerate conversation channesl to use inside and right(prenominal) the makeup, as well as analyzing the advantages and challenges faced to communicate with different groups outside the organization as well as the public. separate or groups that will be communicating inside and outside the organization As a regional director of this Management Office, the main job is to keep people up to date of the situation at hand. The chain of command is critical to making authoritative services and resources are utilized in a timely manner without duplication Shover (2007). The first step is to communicate everyone in the organization of the situation at hand by an immediate phone conference with upper management followed by a memo to the rest of the organization with a plan of action.If a crisis is not well handled that can maltreat the organizations reputation and credibility Hicks (2012). It will be important to appoint a spokes person to be in charged of dealing with the media, and also create a hot line for people to call with concerns regarding the situation. Simultaneously, butt against all local and public health agencies, severalize public health agencies, federal public agencies, all Emergency medical services, hospitals, nongovernmental response such as American Red Cross, CERT, Faith based organization as well as business. According to Shover (2007) The Standard Emergency Management System (SEMS) (Governors Office, 1994) is an incident command system (ICS) and was initiated into California law in 1991. The basics of SEMS are to enhance coordination and communication of selective information and mutual aid resources between local and state authorities during an touch.By using the state and governmental agencies, it will help to use their communication channel, since they communicate with each another(prenominal), it will create a fast response and at the same time it cause that the public to get good communication with out creating a panic. Advantages and Challenges Associated with Communication with The Groups One of the stupendousgest challenges with communicating with various groups in this situation will be trying to keep everyone calmed and up to date with all the appropriate information within the organization as well as other groups outside the organization. Many organizations create a comprehensive crisis plans in order to be prepared for any crisis Hicks (2012). If people with in the organization are not aware of what is sacking on, and what plan to implement, they will not be able to act appropriately and perform their job duties, and that can cause a bigger chaos.The directors job is to be able to choose appropriate communication channels to keep all the employees in the or ganization inform as well with a plan of action to portray a sense of calmness regardless of what is going on and that can be hard. If the appropriate communication channels are not apply, they organization can fall away and the public will suffer the effects of their challenges. If the public is not informed of what is going on using the correct channels of communication, they will feel a sense of distrust and panic can arise. That is wherefore is important to keep the information simple, accurate, honest and delivered in a timely manner. If they are issues where they dont hold it away the answer its ok to say so instead of coveringinformation. The public needs to k directly that there will be an action plan in order and that the organization has the situation downstairs control. Helping the public to understand the roles of the different agencies will help them to keep involved. If other organizations dont keep calm, then they can also can cause a bigger chaos which will ma ke the twice is hard to deal with the original situation. promptly not only they will have to worry about the life-threatening biological agent situation, but now they will need to see to it out a way to keep everyone calm and that can slow down the operation of the emergency plan at hand. Advantages of keeping everyone informed will help in managing the crisis at hand and join on in productivity within and out side the organization. If all the employees of the organization are well informed of what is going on, they will be able to perform all their duties accordingly, making easier to manage the situation. If all the other agencies and private sectors are well communicated of the local organizations plan of action, they can help backup their efforts. Keeping everyone calmed and giving them options of what can be done and what other organizations are doing to support the public will help create a sense of cohesiveness and control of the situation which will in substitute keep e veryone calmed.Differences in Communication Processes UsedThe crisis situations with the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor utilize different sources of communication that the ones used with Hurricane Katrina. What they had in common is that hey used the best communication that they had available at the time. In the look of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor they used the three major networks and local communicate stations which was the best and to a greater extent efficient way to inform people at that time. In the example of Hurricane Katrina since there was more technology available they used newer sources like internet, cell phones, schoolbook messages and other websites to fan out information which was the best sources to get the information to the public.Because most of the local channels of radio and television were abnormal and the infrastructures was affected they had to expand communication to outside of the community to bring resources in. Of course television an d radio was used, but compared with the Three Mile Island reactor more technology was available. Taking this into consideration, as a Regional Directors job, finding the correct channels todisseminate the information will be a big task and using the most up to day and the most effective channels will be the mainstay to success. Depending of the crisis or disaster at hand the right channels need to be used initially and if the initial channels are not effective it will be important to value to be more successful.Appropriate Technology to UseIn the case of the biological agent crisis, the director will make authentic that the correct channels of communication are used. Different channels are available at different times to try to reach different types of population. Phone, as well as hot lines, local, surrounding, state wide and even countrywide communities radio, newspaper, television, internet, other organizations websites, email to other agencies and distribution lists, compani onable media, blogs, photo videos like Skype, You Tube will be appropriate. It will be important to keep in mind all of the possible channels that people have available and unavailable to make sure no one is left uninformed.Print media will be open to distribute to big and small(a) groups within and outside the organization. Multimedia like TV will help engage large audiences, and easy to remember. Internet will be fast, simple, in worked for those that are more technology savvy. The use of smart phones, text will help give rise to using social media as well for fast, and spreadable information.How Technology Differs from the Scenarios to NowThe technology was used different in the scenarios due to the time and accessibility at the time as well as the difference in the type of scenario. For example in the case of Three Mile nuclear reactor television and local radio was the main way to disseminate the information because that was the most effective form at that time. Also the type of thread didnt affect any infrastructure, which was the case in Hurricane Katrina. Since the infrastructure was affected, they used Television and radio outside the local area and instead they used more Internet and newer technology to reach a more people to get help from the outside in. The technology now compared with the one in 1979 with the Three mile nuclear reactor is definitely different and more effective, how ever between Katrina and now there is not as much difference other than a lot of more social media, blogging and Photo video are more common now then during that time.Media OpportunitiesAs a director of the regional Management Office using the media will be beneficial. It will be important to keep in mind the advantages and disadvantages of this source of communication because if it not used appropriately it can back fire in the progress and success of maintaining calm and correct tenacious message. According to Stephenson, (1982) youngs media have a vested interes t in catastrophes, therefore, The key is to make sure the organization come forth first with the right and credible information as well as picture people with information currently available and keep them updated to avoid the media to take over and creates chaos. Make sure to appoint a spokes person in behalf of the organization to give the updates to the media to make sure the correct information is passed to the public and other agencies. As an organization making sure the spokes person understands the importance of this role is key because critical decision will need to be made during this crisis period Hicks (2012).When a crisis arises people tend to feel a big sense of change and it can result in sense of temporary or permanent change that can cause panic and or denial, that is why is important to constantly have a plan when disasters or emergencies occur. During those challenging trying to come up with a beginning right there in there can be challenging but if you have a p lan to fall back on it can release some stress during a disagreeable situation. When unexpected happens you will never be one hundred percent prepared because two situations are not exactly the same but when you have some type of emergency plan in place as well as preparation your organization or family will be more equipped to face the challenges.When natural and man made disasters or emergencies occur like Hurricane Katrina and The Three mile nuclear reactor scenario is important have a plan and be able to keep as many people informed and safe. Thinking about the right strategies and the right use of communication channels as well as the partnership with other organization will help to the success and safety device of the people.ReferencesDu Pr, A. (2005). Communicating About Health. Current Issues and Perspectives (2nd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Shover, H. (2007). Understanding the chain ofcommunication during a disaster. Perspecti ves in Psychiatric Care, 43(1), 4-14. Retrieved from http//search.proquest.com/docview/200766796?accountid=458 Stephenson, D. R. (1982). How To Turn Pitfalls Into Opportunities In Crisis Situations. Public Relations Quarterly, 27(3), 11. Hicks, Nancy. j. (2012). Health Industry Communication New Media, New Methods, New Message,. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.