Introduction
The presentation will discuss a risk communication plan for the residents of New Orleans about a hurricane threat. It will address disaster scenarios and introduce the risk communication plan. The presentation will discuss the plan’s purpose, communication issues, and needs and concerns of different stakeholders and how it affects them. It will involve a discussion on the issues that affect stakeholders. In addition, the presentation will address the processes used to improve two-way communication and build trust and credibility. It will include STARCC, a conclusion, and a summary of the entire plan.
Disaster Scenario
Hurricanes are among the most violent and costliest storms ever experienced in the US. The hurricanes that have hit the US are Katrina, Rita, Tropical Cyclone Andrew, and Hurricane Betsy. For example, in 2005, hurricane Katrina hit the coastline of Louisiana state in the city of New Orleans (Krueger et al., 2019). The disaster caused the death of about 1800 people, of which 1500 were from Louisiana. In addition, many people were left homeless due to the destruction of about 800,000 housing units in the affected areas.
Introduction to The Plan
There was an event that happened in New Orleans that affected the lives of people. For example, Hurricane Katrina had a devastating impact on the lives of people. It led to the destruction of properties and loss of life. It is believed to be the country’s most devastating natural disaster. Effective risk communication makes decision-making more cohesive and ensures that goals are met during every cycle (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2020). To communicate about risk well, individuals need to know how to use different types of communication and understand many important factors.
Purpose of The Plan
The most important purpose and objective of this communication strategy is to guarantee that the people living in New Orleans are provided with an evacuation plan and that they have a solid understanding of what is expected of them. The active protection provided by this approach is meant to guarantee that none of the individuals who live in this particular location will lose their lives as a result of the effects of the storm that was created by the disaster (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2020). In addition, the protective measures will make sure that the procedure of evacuating residents does not incur a high cost to them or expose them to a risk that would be a burden to them.
Communication Challenges
Different communication issues are likely to be experienced during a disaster. One of the issues affecting communication is the damage to infrastructure, leading to a breakdown. The storm destroys communication lines and posts (Gall & Cutter, 2019). The other problem is decoding the message during a disaster due to excess noise and disruption. Another issue affecting the dissemination of information during a disaster is increased stress and panic. People are unable to communicate effectively when they are stressed. The other problem influencing communication in the event of a disaster is distraction and the focus on other areas.
Needs and Concerns
There are different needs and concerns of stakeholders during a crisis involving a disaster. They need guidance on how to respond to the situation effectively. The stakeholders need fast and accurate information about the disaster to understand the event. In addition, they require professionals who can explain the situation in a manner they can understand. The stakeholders are concerned about safe housing and safety during a crisis.
The Impact to Stakeholders
A risk communication plan will have a significant impact on stakeholders. Firstly, it allows the stakeholders to manage a crisis when it occurs effectively. Having a good plan gives stakeholders the ability to handle the situation. Secondly, the plan encourages the audience to have hope that the issue is manageable. Thirdly, the plan enables the target audience to better prepare for disaster. Fourthly, risk communication aims to give people at risk the information they need to make intelligent decisions about dealing with a threat, such as taking protective and preventive steps.
Processes To Enhance The Two-way Communication
Some processes can be used to enhance the two-way communication model. Firstly, it is crucial to ensure that the message is presented clearly for people to understand (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2020). As shown in Figure 2 above, one way to increase clarity is by eliminating the noise. Secondly, two-way communication can be enhanced by ensuring the source is valid or reliable. Thirdly, communication can be increased by striving to understand the audience. There is a need to promote feedback and respond to them promptly.
Processes to Build Trust and Credibility
The process to build trust and credibility must be incorporated into the approach. Firstly, it is integral to offer different options for lowering the disaster. The stakeholders would want to know how the situation can be mitigated to reduce its impact. Secondly, ensure that the information is accurate, reliable, and can be trusted. This involves ensuring that only professionals are consulted and offer their opinions. Thirdly, it is important to design communication in a way that speaks to the interests of stakeholders. Finally, building trust can be done by demonstrating commitment and concern to stakeholders.
Final STARCK
STARCC is a model with simple, timely, accurate, relevant, credible, and consistent aspects. Firstly, people in a crisis want the information to be simple and to the point to enhance understanding. Secondly, the information should be timely because any delay can devastate people. Thirdly, the information should be accurate because any error can have a detrimental impact on stakeholders. Fourthly, relevance is achieved by responding to the questions effectively and offering the required steps. Fifthly, credibility is attained by engaging experts in the field during the crisis. Finally, consistency is attained by showing commitment during the process.
Conclusion
With adequate planning, the impact on the residents will be manageable. Having a solid communication strategy in place is necessary during times of emergency. The utilization of first responders who are equipped with sufficient information can help avert further damage. The community needs to come together to support local emergency managers and act as a bridge to disseminating information to the community. Additionally, the community should provide these first responders and emergency managers with relevant information that could be used to deter and stop further damage and mitigate the effects of the disaster.
Summary
In summary, for any risk communication strategy to be successful, fundamental communication standards must be adopted to serve as a guideline for the emergency manager and the community. Due to this, individuals can comprehend what is expected of them and how they may contribute most effectively to the answer. The strategy needs to include an explanation of the aim and consideration of the difficulties associated with communication. It must address the concerns, needs, and repercussions of various stakeholders. It should discuss how trust can be built and communication can be improved in both directions.
References
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Communicating in a crisis: Risk communication guidelines for public officials. Lulu. com.
Gall, M., & Cutter, S. L. (2019). Emergency management: The American experience. (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Krueger, S., Winkler, J., & Schumann III, R. L. (2019). Residential taxable value recovery in coastal Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. Local Government Studies, 45(3), 372-393. Web.