Perspective: CommunicationGood Communication Is a Key Part of Disaster Response
Behind the scenes during hurricanes and other disasters, scores of public information officers (PIOs) in state and local government agencies are fixed to their screens – often in 24-hour shifts – frantically fielding facts and phone calls, rushing to get information to the news media and the public. While this work may not seem as critical as search-and-rescue operations, it is essential.
Behind the scenes during hurricanes and other disasters, scores of public information officers (PIOs) in state and local government agencies are fixed to their screens – often in 24-hour shifts – frantically fielding facts and phone calls, rushing to get information to the news media and the public. While this work may not seem as critical as search-and-rescue operations, it is essential. Efficient, rapid and accurate information flow during an emergency can save lives, especially during complex, evolving events like Hurricane Dorian.
Shannon A. Bowen writes that her expertise is in public affairs and crisis communication. In a recent study, she and her colleague Alessandro Lovari assessed how PIOs used social media to communicate during emergencies.
“We found that social media has changed the landscape of public sector communication, and is now a key tool during disasters and emergencies,” she writes. “But it also raises new challenges, such as coping with huge volumes of information and determining whether reports are credible.”
