Does your crisis communications plan include social media?

Last month, research came out indicating that web users increasingly rely on social media to seek help in a disaster. A survey by the Red Cross shows that 74 percent expect response agencies to answer social media calls for help within an hour.
According to the news release, if web users knew of someone else who needed help, 44 percent would ask other people in their social network to contact authorities, 35 percent would post a request for help directly on a response agency’s Facebook page and 28 percent would send a direct Twitter message to responders (couldn’t reach 9-1-1).

Also, 69 percent said that emergency responders should be monitoring social media sites in order to quickly send help. And nearly half believe a response agency is probably already responding to any urgent request they might see.

Does your crisis communications plan include social media for dissemination and response?

One thing that can guide you is our chapter’s upcoming crisis communications professional development seminar next week on October 7. Our speaker will be the leading industry expert, James E. Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA.

Here are the topics we’ll cover…

• Crisis-proofing Your Organization – How to Avoid the Crucial Mistakes that Cause Most Responses to Fail (Morning session)
• Getting Your Boss to Listen to You – The Seven Disciplines of the Trusted Strategic Advisor (Luncheon presentation, during our regular chapter monthly luncheon)
• When You Are the Target – Coping With Activists, Antagonists and New Media Attacks (Afternoon session)

Hurry! Registration closes this Friday!
Get details online.
Download the flier
Register for the full day 
Register for the luncheon only