Communications in Disaster

1. Communications in Disaster Danni R. Eickenhorst Communications Specialist Salvation Army Midland HQ

2. Acts of War • Fire • Tsunami • Blizzard • Avalanche • Volcanic Activity • Hurricane • Oil Spill • Chemical Leak • Flooding • Earthquake • Tornado

4. May 22, 2011 5:42 p.m.

11. Public Information Officer (PIO) • Central media point of contact in/out • Relationships with media • Arrange interviews – Speak/Prep • Internal Communications • External communications

12. PIO (Continued) • Historian/Photographer/Videographer • Work with liaison and outside agencies to stay abreast of upcoming events. • Work with field personnel to stay updated on stories as they happen.

13. Challenges • Limited communications channels • Carnage and destruction • Non-stop activity • Doing good while delivering the message • Doing good BY delivering the message • Exhaustion/Burnout • Physical conditions

14. Jump Kit • Hot spot • Flash Drive (multiple) • SD Cards • Laptop • Camera (hi-res, portable) • Flip camera • Tape/Voice Recorder • Flashlight • Bug Spray • Sunscreen • Water/Snacks • Cash • Backup batteries for all equipment • Chargers • Appropriate clothing and shoes • Inverter • Logoed materials • Maps • Portable printer • Hand Sanitizer • First Aid Kit • Business Cards • Photo ID • Pre-loaded drive • Templates • Media contact list • Master contact list (organization) • Links and logins • Generic fact sheets

15. “Disaster sites are often chaotic and unpredictable placeswhere good intentions are easily lost in the details of difficult logistics and poor communications. Disaster scenes can include human misery as well as hope, courage and conviction – also failed plans and lack of preparedness. The way these scenes are interpreted and presented to the public is critical to the reputation and morale of the organizations involved in the response. Managing the process is a critical component of the overall disaster response.”

16. Situation Report Communities Served: Joplin, Missouri Services Rendered: Hydration and sandwiches served to responders and survivors; clean-up assistance; long-term social services such as rent and utility assistance; lost item replacement; short-term shelter, and ministry/spiritual aid to responders and survivors. Hot Meals Served: 102,174 Beverages Served: 253,897 Clothing Items Provided: 495,000+ Volunteer Hours: 8,942 EDS Staff Hours: 9,500 TSA Assets Dispatched: 8 canteens from Oklahoma, Springfield, St. Louis and Sedalia; 5 staff vans; 3 generator trailers, and SATERN mobile response unit.

17. FACT SHEET Information to Include • How many people are affected by this disaster? • Organization response to date? • Partnerships in the response effort? • History of organization within the community in questions, and brief general background of organization’s history. • What do affected people need, if anything, at this time? • What does your organization need at this time to help them? • What telephone number and internet link are being used for people with inquiries or wanting to help?

18. News Consumers • Let’s talk about news consumers so we can decide who we should target with our efforts in a disaster: • 46% of Americans say they get their news from 4-6 media platforms on any given day. • Just 7% get their news from a single source. • 28% of online news consumers have customized their home page to include news on the topics of their choice. • 37% of internet users have contributed to the creation of news, commented about it or shared it via Facebook or Twitter. • 65% of online adults use social networking sites.

19. Power of Social Media in Disaster • Free/Low Cost • Immediate • Global reach • PR Disaster – Early Detection • Developing strategy in advance

20. MEDIA OUTLETS • Print • Daily local newspapers • Weekly community-based newspapers • Special interest or non-English language newspapers • Newsletters for employees, service recipients, etc. • News magazines • Radio • Talk • Sports • News • Christian/Religious • University-affiliated • Public Radio • Satellite • Music • Television • Broadcast (commercial and public) • Local and national cable news/weather • Pay (cable or satellite) • Online • Almost all print, radio and TV outlets have a presence online • News is aggregated/curated by blogs, ISP’s • Some news sources are online-only • Blogs • Networking Sites/Social Media • Photo/Video Sharing (YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, Picasa)

21. Media Row • First 24-36 hours • Global • Knocking on Doors • Coming Prepared

22. Branding in Disaster

23. Types of Content • Services offered to those in need • Why services are critical to disaster response • Plan-of-attack for disaster response by organization/client • Statistics and numbers • Quantification of actual needs and benefits provided by company • Find creative ways to make numbers relatable

24. Types of Content • Human interest stories about survivors, volunteers and responders • Man on the street videos • Photography • Candid/Action, not “grip and grin” • High resolution • Test resolution settings and capacity to transfer files electronically prior to disaster

25. Compassion in Content • Privacy • Protection • Approach • Developing Trust • Informed Consent

26. Power in the PIO Role • Information • Advocacy • Power to deliver aid • Power to enact change

27. Internal Preparations • Incident Command Role Determination • Training • Policies • Mental Preparation & Research • Build social media presence • Jump Kit • Prepared language • Cultivated media relationships • Plan for after-care

28. Future Content • Corporate donors • Donation drives • Memorials/Anniversaries • Joplin Relief Video