Although we do not plan to be involved in a crisis, safety is the upmost important part of organizations. Having a crisis communication plan in place is the best way to prepare your organization for a disaster.
We have supplied many faith-based organizations with the tools needed for their crisis communication plans. Below are the top 5 ways religious organizations have opted to improving their crisis strategies that can easily be applied to other organizations where public safety comes first.
Top 5 Ways to Improve Crisis Communication Plans
Understand the Situation
No emergency is the same. Have a leadership team dedicated to make exit strategies, communication plans, and safe routes for all members. Planning should consider all settings, times, and situations.
Have an Exit Strategy
Have a plan for evacuation. Know the entrances and exits of the building or buildings. Make sure there is a safe space where people can gather after leaving the facility. This can be a neighboring business, parking lot, or nearby field.
Appoint a Dedicated Leader or Team
In an emergency, communication needs to be immediate and to the right people. The leaders should know the exit strategy to effectively communicate to the entire group.
Constant Communication
Invest in communication devices that will keep your team in the know. Constant communication will keep everyone informed. If plans change, the team leaders need to be connected at all time. Relying on cell phone service is not always the best solution.
Our recommended solutions include:
Qualify for Federal Support
FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The purpose of the agency is to coordinate the response to a disaster that occurred in the United States and provide disaster recovery support.
Additionally, FEMA offers various grants that provide assistance to non-federal entities, individuals, or households that carry out a public purpose. There are post-disaster grants and pre-disaster grants for diverse organizations.
Religious organizations typically qualify for the Non-Profit Security Grant Program that grants funds to prepare and implement the National Preparedness System. Since these faith-based organizations provide a public service, they have been approved for many crisis communication devices, and crisis prevention plans.
There are many prevention methods for a crisis. Every organization can look at their business or organization and decide what fits best for their strategy. For more information, please visit FEMA.gov, search our industry solutions page, or call us directly at (888) 742-5893.