Crisis Communications Planning

Effective crisis communication is a crucial element in effective crisis management and should assume a central role from the start. It establishes employee and client confidence in the ability of a company to deal with a crisis and to bring about a rapid resolution. Effective crisis communication is also integral to the larger process of information exchange aimed at eliciting trust and promoting understanding of the relevant issues or actions.

Providing accurate and timely information to employees and other stakeholders is essential to the crisis communications process. Identifying and prioritizing target audiences and then identifying channels of communications must be established for effective internal and external communications. Plans must consider alternate communications sources: newsletters, internet, email, text messaging, and 1-800 lines.It must include predetermined stand-by message and tactics such as prepared templates, ready-to-use news releases, media statements, fact sheets, and backgrounds.

Firestorm follows its PREDICT. PLAN. PERFORM.® process in developing crisis communications plans.

Specifically, Firestorm's crisis communications planning:

1. Defines communication response strategies that can be implemented when a crisis occurs;

2. Assigns crisis communications resources and responsibilities;

3. Establishes crisis communications protocols;

4. Enables your company to reach target audiences with key messages;

5. Enables crisis communications managers to immediately launch public information and media relations campaigns during a crisis.

Once a plan is in place, Media Training is recommended.