We’ve recently been discussing ‘the Most Important Minute’ - that first minute during a crisis situation when every second counts. Since emergencies can be frantic and emotional by nature, what you do during the first minute of a crisis can severely impact the outcome. That is why it is essential to plan well in advance and be ready to execute your Emergency Response Plan, and critical communications should definitely be a part of that plan.
Timely notification to your employees, students, and/or community with the information necessary to keep them out of harm's way is the core of any emergency response. The TTI (Time To Initiate) this messaging can very likely impact the overall outcome of the incident. Unfortunately, there is no 'easy button’ for crisis communications, but just as the old adage says preparation can, indeed, prevent poor performance. By considering your options and the types of communications that you may send, and then creating predetermined sets of actions for those specific situations, you are on your way to making that first minute’s outcomes successful.
To learn more about how to improve preparedness before your next emergency, download the full insight: Planning and Critical Communications.
