Communications and Crisis Management in the Post 9/11 Period

Like many of you, I am deluged today by memories of September 11, 2001.  All my telephones ringing at once.  Neighborhood schools on lockdown.  Huddling on the couch with my family as we watched hours of mind-blowing and life-altering events unfold on television.  On television.  9/11 happened before the advent and ubiquity of social media.  It was pre-Facebook, pre-Twitter, pre-Instagram. 

Today, emergencies, crises and disasters - manmade or natural - occur with a panoply of media available to interlopers and bystanders.  Without a plan for media management and rules set forth by an organization's leadership well in advance, social media may interfere with or complicate life-saving efforts.  I share the wisdom of Bo Mitchell, President of 911 Consulting:

 



 

911 Consulting is the nation's leader in emergency planning and training for workplaces. Founder and President Bo Mitchell, CEM, CPP, CBCP, CAS, CSI-ML, HSEEP, MOAB, CHCM, CHSP, CHS-V, CSSM, CSHM, CFC, CIPS, CSC, CESCO, IAC, TFCT3, CERT, CMC, CHEP, served as Police Commissioner of Wilton, Connecticut for sixteen years.  He retired in 2001 to establish 911 Consulting with the mission to protect people at their workplaces during emergencies.