Disaster Recovery Journal Summer 2023

nications. In the public sector, this type of team is called a Joint Information Center, or JIC. Simply stated, the communication goal during any crisis or incident is to get the right information to the right people at the right time so they can make the

right decisions and issue right commu nications. Right communications are not rocket science, but they require planning and discipline. It also requires the com munications team to work closely with crisis management and continuity plan ners not only at the time of crisis but in

planning and running exercises so there is a solid understanding of who is doing what. Going Forward What should you be thinking about as you put this article down? I strongly encourage you to take this on as a “home work assignment.” Begin by doing an evaluation of your program and your organization’s potential internal and external risks, given the post-COVID societal disruptions and potential poly crises we now face. To do that, look at your risk profile and potential risk expo sures, given all we have covered in this article, and take a serious look at your organizations. Ask yourself three basic questions: n Situational awareness : Is our process for obtaining, validating, and displaying information sufficient given the new and potential risks? n Crisis management program : Is our crisis management program, teams, plans, processes, and exercises training us to be ready? n Crisis communications : Are we able to get out timely communications to all identified key stakeholders using all the important and required platforms? Finally, work to continue to educate yourself and those around you about these world changes and critical issues. Many are just hoping or praying we will bounce back to 2019, but I can tell you it’s not going to happen! Work to be flex ible and nimble as these threats emerge and shift. We need to stay on our toes. And lastly, take care of yourself! This is a long haul, and we need you here in great shape as we navigate the challenges ahead. v Regina Phelps is an internationally recog nized thought leader and expert in the field of crisis management, exercise design, continuity, and pandemic planning. She is the founder of EMS Solutions Inc, (EMSS). Since 1982, EMSS has provided consultation and speak ing services to clients on five continents.

14 DISASTER RECOVERY JOURNAL | SUMMER 2023