PUBLIC MEDIA'S ROLE IN AN EMERGENCY: USING
ENGAGEMENT PRINCIPLES TO KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY SAFE
Public media can be an invaluable resource in times of crisis, offering a powerful combination of reach, expertise and community trust. We’ve assembled resources to help public media stations serve their community during disasters, including case study examples of past projects at left.
Emergency Preparedness and Response Resources
Current Google Crisis Map:
See a visual display of emergency preparedness information, including current locations and projected paths, weather updates, evacuation information and routes, shelter and recovery center locations and storm-related YouTube videos.
Center for Disease Control
CDC provides users with credible, reliable health information on disasters, pandemics and other issues of critical importance to the public, as well as general information on healthy living.
National Weather Service
Get the latest alerts from NOAA: The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and NWS: The National Weather Service
Ready.gov
Ready.gov encourages citizens to make an emergency-preparedness kit, design a plan to stay in contact with loved ones in the event of disaster, and get informed about existing state and local disaster planning. Blackouts, biological and chemical threats, hurricanes and other scenarios are covered.
For Kids
Sesame Street Toolkits:
Tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, and any stressful events can be particularly difficult for young children who may not fully understand what's going on around them. Sesame Workshop has developed a number of resources and toolkits for you to share with your communities.
- "Here for Each Other" — Helping Families After An Emergency
- Hurricane Kit
- You Can Ask
- "I'm Scared" Video Playlist
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Contact local authorities to learn about existing response efforts and the organizations involved. Ask what is needed and how your station can help. Build upon any groundwork you have laid through advance planning. |
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Collaborate with others in your community. Now is the time to share ideas and build on each other’s work. Before setting off on your own plans, discover what other organizations are already doing and work together to strengthen the impact. |
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Act as the glue between various organizations in your area. In stressful times, these organizations often work without knowledge of what others are doing. Your station can facilitate information sharing. |
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Connect your community with information they need. The number of resources available online can be overwhelming. Post the most pertinent resources on your station site and use PSAs or other communications channels to tell people where to find them. |
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Provide multiple entry points to your emergency-related content. (in person, online, via social media, on the air). The same content can be delivered across multiple platforms. |
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Help local citizens support one another by involving them in dialogue. Use an online forum, phone bank or on-air town hall to give citizens the chance to share what they’re doing and how they’re coping. |
Public Media Resources
SAFERStations.orgThis joint project from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, NPR and CPB provides a detailed emergency preparedness manual in English and Spanish, social media guidelines, tools for station websites, and much more. |
Points of LightPoints of Light, the worlds largest volunteer activation organization, works with its HandsOn Network Volunteer Action Centers and partners across the country and around the world to coordinate volunteer response in times of disaster. The organization also focuses on improving emergency preparedness among communities, families and individuals. |
General Resources
American Red CrossThe American Red Cross focuses its efforts on six main areas: domestic disaster relief, community services for the needy, support for military members and their families, blood and blood products, educational programs that promote health and safety, and international relief programs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)CDC provides users with credible, reliable health information on disasters, pandemics and other issues of critical importance to the public, as well as general information on healthy living. Citizen CorpsCitizen Corps, a FEMA initiative, asks citizens to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety. DisasterAssistance.govDisasterAssistance.gov is a web portal that provides information on how you might be able to get help from the U.S. government before, during and after a disaster. It streamlines the process for seeking help from 17 government agencies. Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA)FEMA’s website includes tips for emergency preparedness and resources for disaster survivors. National Institutes of Health (NIH)As a part of the Department of Health & Human Services, NIH discovers and communicates new scientific findings. Its website has a wide variety of consumer health information. Ready.govReady.gov encourages citizens to make an emergency-preparedness kit, design a plan to stay in contact with loved ones in the event of disaster, and get informed about existing state and local disaster planning. Blackouts, biological and chemical threats, hurricanes and other scenarios are covered. World Health Organization (WHO)WHO is the public-health arm of the United Nations.
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