Disaster Communication Strategy - Essay Example

It is therefore important to effectively correspond to all stakeholders on appropriate strategies and objectives for calamity control procedures. This paper describes the five critical assumptions of an effective disaster communication strategy.

To understand the five critical assumptions of an effective disaster communication strategy, it is important to posit that these strategies are based on the divergent stages of an effective calamity management procedure. Disaster management is categorized into various stages i.e. mitigation, preparedness, responses, and recovery stages. Consequently, a useful calamity communication plan of action has five basic postulations. According to Haddow, Bullock, and Coppola, these include “customer focus, leadership commitment, the inclusion of communication in planning and operations, good information, and media partnership” (134).

Customer focus

Studies done in the past have elucidated the fact that an effective disaster control structure ought to focus on the consumer. In other words, the priority should be to benefit the consumer. According to Haddow, Bullock and Coppola, an efficient disaster control structure considers the requirements and desires of the consumer and necessitates all stakeholders to be alert, quick to respond, and instructive. It is significant to consider the fact that the consumers of a disaster control procedure are varied and may comprise workers or employees from international organizations, national institutions, and governments, as well as several additional stakeholders associated with calamity control. It may also comprise o local individuals. Available sources posit that information relayed to each of the consumers affected must be based on individual or institutional requirements (135).

Leadership commitment

According to Haddow, Bullock, and Coppola, in the initial stages, a successful disaster control plan of action is established or instituted in the participation and involvement of the individuals involved in decision-making within the body or institution involved in the process. Decision makers in the body conducting the operation must be loyal in terms of giving out and publicizing facts associated with the impending calamity. It is also important to involve decision-makers in other related bodies and stakeholders as well as the local leaders in propagating all the facts of the calamity. This is attributed to the fact that articulate discharge of the relevant and useful facts regarding an impending calamity is important and hence individuals with necessary communication skills such as local leaders of the involved body ought to be involved (135). Decision makers in a calamity situation also ought to candidly encourage, approve, and support the effective sharing and exchange of facts and information among all the stakeholders.

Preparation and implementation

It is also important to posit that the dedication and loyalty of decision-makers in disaster correspondence about forecasting, preparation, and necessary procedures is critical. An expert in correspondence matters should therefore be involved and be incorporated or integrated into the decision-making group. Discharge of relevant information and facts of an impending calamity as well as other plans of action geared towards mitigations procedures has been made less complicated by the use of technology and media as well as individuals from all corners of the world can easily access necessary information (Haddow, Bullock, and Coppola 136).

Situational responsiveness

A successful disaster or calamity management communication plan of action is dependent on well-timed and apt analogy, scrutiny, as well as discharge of facts associated with a calamity in harmony with certain moral and ethically considered standards. Therefore, all relevant information and facts must be relayed in a crystal clear, ingenuous, and honest manner (Haddow, Bullock, and Coppola 137).

Media involvement

In the modern world, almost every home owns either television or radio or has access to the internet and other print information. Through these mediums, people can receive information from the relevant bodies aptly. Haddow, Bullock, and Coppola assert that correspondence experts must therefore work hand-in-hand with the media in discharging the necessary information to the affected individuals. Through modern technology particularly mobile phones, individuals on the ground can record the happenings in the affected regions by a calamity. Strategies ought to be put into place to integrate such information or facts and consequently publicize it (137).

In conclusion, effective, apt, and well-timed discharge of facts regarding an impending disaster is of utmost importance in all levels of calamity management. Doing so can help save the lives of many individuals and warn individuals of an impending calamity. Receiving such information at the right time allows the public to have enough time to relocate to safe regions or implement strategies geared towards lessening the impact, vigilance, and response, as well as resurgence from the adverse effects of a calamity.