Hcs320 - Communication and Crisis

Running Head: Communication and Crisis

Communication and Crisis

by

Joni M. Riker

HCS/320

October 26, 2015

Instructor Terry De Wees

Notifications have been received that public water supplies have become contaminated in several towns in the area with a life threatening biological agent. We need to request for external support and strategies to help us maintain the medical treatment of inpatient care and emergency care as well even with insufficient water supply (Sudinaka et al, 2014). We should discuss our Business Continuity Plan (BCP) which according to Suginaka et al, (2014) “Is a Documented set of procedures and information developed, compiled, and maintained for use during a disaster or other adverse incident and is a useful tool for averting or managing potential crisis.” (p. 2).

Individuals/ Groups Communicating the Crisis

        In the case of any crisis or emergency we need a Crisis Communication Plan (CCP). This is a communication plan that will give you a basis outline of what happens and needs done in the event of a crisis or emergency. It will need to be adjusted to your own needs and information. The outline is not meant to answer all of the questions that you will or may have it is just a basic outline to help get you started. We should have one of our own that is more than just a system for responding to the current circumstances (Stanton, 2002). According to Stanton (2002) “Crisis Communication Plan is a method for planning and thinking about situations in day-to-day operations, business and company communities and preparing company people to understand and respond to special demands of crisis conditions.” (p.1) In having a Crisis Communication Plan we can better prepare for a Crisis or Emergency and the better prepared that we are the quicker actions that can be taken to remedy or manage a crisis and or emergency. The quicker we are at taking action to solve the issue at hand the sooner everyone can return to their day to day lives.

        People who should be included in the Crisis Communication Plan are personnel specially trained for crisis response with backups for each Crisis Communication Plan and routine communication position (Stanton, 2002). People on the team should be made up of those individuals that are important to the situation and will help with the situation. Some of these people should include but are not limited to the CEO, the chief of Public Relations, the Vice President, the Senior Manager from the division in charge of the area that is involved in the crisis or emergency, (Freeo, n.d). As well as Technical Advisors, legal staff and operations staff, Data & Documentation staff, and Emergency Response team. The people on your team should be people who will be needed in the event of a crisis or emergency. These people should also always be trained in a crisis situation and should always have to keep their training up to date.