Help, Don’t Harm: Communicating for the Public Good in Disaster (2016)

Imagine you are a new communications professional who is suddenly tasked with delivering vital public information after a tornado has destroyed your town. You likely have had academic or on-the-job training in crisis and disaster communication, and know the protocols needed to get the messages to your intended audience. But, unless you have experience living off the grid in a remote wilderness, you may not know how to do your job effectively when there is no electricity, internet access or cellular service. Add the rumors that are quickly outpacing the flow of official messaging, and you have a veritable tsunami of challenges to overcome. While there are numerous books, journal articles and case studies that outline what you should do in this situation, there are few personal accounts that detail how a communicator actually addressed obstacles and barriers in an active disaster setting.