Milwaukee, WI (Oct. 10, 2011) — Managing information in the aftermath of a disaster is a challenge that can affect an organization’s business, reputation and brand. In the new report from Empathia, “Crisis Communications: Seven Lessons Learned from Disaster Response Experiences,” enterprise risk management expert Joseph J. DesPlaines explains how the increased use of social media enables reporting on disasters to occur almost instantly.
“In today’s electronic environment, media reporting happens so quickly that every disaster—no matter how minor—should be treated as a media event,” explains Mr. DesPlaines. “Before the advent of social media, organizations had a window of opportunity to prepare a response to a crisis. That is no longer the case.”
Following a disaster, people primarily want information, the Empathia report says. Having answers for survivors, survivor families, victim families, the media, and other stakeholders, as well as a vehicle for delivering these answers quickly, should be a priority for any organization. Crisis communications with victims and their family members is an essential part of any good disaster response plan and can make a positive difference for an organization’s image, its reputation, and in how it successfully resumes business operations.
Just as an organization’s reputation can suffer from being unresponsive, those organizations that have a disaster management plan in place with a robust crisis communication system are often viewed as responsive, caring and compassionate.
Empathia’s free white paper helps organizations prepare for a crisis before it happens and explains how to:
– Create a good disaster response plan that will make a positive difference on an organization’s reputation
– Provide care and assistance to victims and their families
– Communicate with survivors, survivor families, victims’ families and other stakeholders
– Set up a crisis call center
– Successfully resume business operations after a disaster
“Crisis Communications: Seven Lessons Learned from Disaster Response Experiences” can be downloaded here: http://www.empathia.com/whitepapers/20110810.php.
About Empathia, Inc.
Empathia provides behavioral health solutions that improve the well-being, safety and productivity of organizations and individuals. The company collaborates with private and public sector entities from expansive Fortune 500 corporations to small businesses in addressing a diverse range of needs: employee assistance, disaster response and planning, work-life balance, employee relations, leadership development, training and benefits support. Founded in 1982 under the name NEAS, Empathia has distinguished itself as a quality leader dedicated to creating a superior customer experience for both client organizations and employees. For more information, visit http://www.empathia.com.
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Media Contacts:
Carrie Reuter
Empathia, Inc.
866-332-9595
creuter(a)empathia.com
Elrond Lawrence
HRmarketer for Empathia
831-632-2183
elawrence(a)fishervista.com
This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.