White Papers
Message Mapping: How to Communicate During the Six Stages of a Crisis
Abstract : Do you know what you will say in the critical first minutes after receiving reports of an active shooter on campus? How about six hours into the incident? What will you tell people when your county issues a floodwatch or the power in your building goes out at 10:00 a.m. on a Monday?
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Message Maps: Blueprints for Pandemic Preparedness
Abstract : Natural disasters. Earthquakes, fires, floods. Pandemic flu. Terrorist attacks. In the 21st-century, effective emergency communications are an obvious musthave. Without the right, planned communication strategy, chaos abounds in an already catastrophic situation. As evidenced by 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, the main issue regarding disasters becomes not if they will occur, but rather when. Even more importantly, how will organizations -- both private and public -- choose to respond? With last-minute, unplanned messages? Or with comprehensive, planned message strategies?
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The ROI of Mass Notification
Abstract : A mass notification system is an integral component of an organization’s emergency and routine communications capabilities. While these systems are most often associated with emergency notification for contacting employees during and after a disaster, mass notification dramatically improves an organization’s operational efficiency and bottom line when implemented for day-to-day operations. Just a few common examples include alerting supply chain members about a needed change in delivery schedules; reminding employees about policy changes, deadlines, and other time-sensitive information; and mobilizing IT staff more quickly after a server goes down all make an organization and its employees more efficient and competitive.
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3n Brief: Preparing for Avian Flu
Abstract : Public health officials warn us that a pandemic is inevitable. While H5N1 avian influenza, also known as avian flu and bird flu, is not yet classified as a pandemic, it is being likened to the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed over 40 million people worldwide. Should the avian flu become a full-blown pandemic, researchers and analysts expect the impact to be severe, killing millions and severely disrupting economies and businesses worldwide. Yet, many organizations have not developed adequate plans to continue operations under the strain of a pandemic outbreak. Preparation and communication are key to weathering the storm. This brief examines how mass notification may be applied as a remedy to critical communication failures before, during, and following a pandemic.
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Using Mass Notification in a Disaster
Abstract : Disaster Planning and Business Continuity are two of the fastest growing fields in both the commercial and government sectors. Analysis of past disasters has shown that communications are a major limiting factor in disaster response. This paper examines the many historical reasons communications might fail during emergencies, and then directly applies the dynamic technology of mass notification as a remedy to many of those failures.
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Selecting a Mass Notification System
Abstract : Mass notification systems are becoming an integral part of both emergency and non-emergency communications for organizations of all sizes and in all industries. The benefits of mass notification are already being applied by organizations to increase revenues, cut or avoid costs, and minimize the loss of human life. Organizations have many options when selecting a system vendor. This paper examines in detail the considerations fundamental to selecting an appropriate mass notification system for any organization.
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