Communicating in a Crisis: Risk Communication Guidelines for Public Officials

Communicating in a Crisis: Risk Communication Guidelines for Public OfficialsSMA 02-3641200296 pp.Free

Copies may be obtained from the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Mental Health Services Clearinghouse, (800) 789-2647; www.riskcommunication.samhsa.gov/RiskComm.pdf

Sound and thoughtful communication can help public officials to prevent ineffective, fear-driven, and potentially damaging public responses to serious crises. This primer was written with the goal of providing a resource for public officials about the basic tenets of effective communication, with a special focus on the media. There are steps that public officials can take in advance of any incident to better prepare communities, risk managers, elected officials,public health officials, and others to respond to the management challenges of crises and disasters.