Asked in class

The other night in class, I was asked - again - to explain the "log" system we use in crisis to avoid getting too behind in a "now" is too late environment.
So, here you go - fairly simple -
1) Select a time frame (either 15 minutes or 30 minutes) for the cycle.
2) Pre-write your "first" release or notification - recognize that your information will post on a blog, be typed up as a release or set on your Web site as a "diary" or "journal" and your first statement can be pre-written so little or no time is lost - ours is "At ____(time) St. Francis was notified that _______(brief statement of what you told when notified; e.g. that there was a chemical spill in the hospital's NICU, or whatever)...and the hospital's (organization's) crisis team has been called and is responding. We will have an update for you in just 15/30 minutes when we know more."
3) Work your cycle - 10 or 20 minutes of information gathering, 3 or 5 minutes to draft a short paragraph indicating what - new - you KNOW (no speculation). In the second and subseqent releases - be open to questions and advise that you will answer them in subsequent announcements as you learn the answers.
4) Keep the "cycle" going for the first 2 - 6 hours of the crisis until you have staff, and you have passed the initial period of time when you have more unanswered questions than answers.
5) Switch to a "traditional" crisis response with news conferences, news releases posted at designated times (e.g. twice a day) and integrate all your communication processes from face-to-face to blogs, web sites, faxes, etc. etc.

That's it.

Sorry, been gone...will re-energize in July

This is supposed to be a "professional" blog...but like a lot of newbie bloggers, time and focus got away from me last month. One big reason is that I took three weeks away from the work world for a vacation through the fijords of Norway. Anyway, I'm back and will attempt to post more regularly starting in July.
FB