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Crisis Communications: Not Just for Clients

By: Marijean Jaggers | 09/17/2007

At Standing Partnership, we recommend all our clients develop crisis communications plans. It's not pleasant to think about the "what ifs" that come with the development of crisis scenarios for clients. It's a tad uncomfortable to share with your client contact that you've given careful consideration to what would need to happen if they were to meet an untimely demise. In planning, however, we provide some peace of mind. Clients have certainly gained heightened awareness of the need for crisis roadmaps and recent history, Sept. 11, Hurricane Katrina and the Virginia Tech massacre, have underscored that need.

But what about families? Do the members of your household have a crisis communications plan? We rely so much on cell phones (kids have them, grandmas have them) that we hardly know how to begin to get in touch with one another without them. In two of the devastating events above, cell phones did not work; people were truly out of communication with friends and family members.

The US Department of Homeland Security has a site, Ready.gov that helps families build a disaster preparedness plan. The site offers practical tips and lists for emergency supply kits.

No, it's not that pleasant to dwell on the possibility of disaster striking your family or your community, but preparedness is the first step to feeling confident in your abilities to survive and stay in touch through the worst of circumstances.

Posted in Crisis Communications, Issues and Crisis Management