Complete 9 page APA formatted essay: Home Land Security: Communication.Download file to see previous pages... Although media have the ability to effectively communicate to the public, it is essential

Complete 9 page APA formatted essay: Home Land Security: Communication.

Although media have the ability to effectively communicate to the public, it is essential to design specific strategies and policies while interacting with the public during a disaster scenario. Hence, coordinated operation of media and response team is essential to effectively overcome a disaster scenario. This memo critically evaluates various measures that are suggestible to establish an effective media relations capability. It also explores various effective communication practices within the response team and between the response team and other external parties. Benefits of effective communication channels Improved public communication is an inevitable element that would make the public more vigilant and assist the response team to design efficient strategies since an individual’s reaction will be shaped largely by the information and knowledge available to him at the time of the disaster scenario. According to the famous American thinker Dale Carnegie, “when dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion”. Therefore, the media must be very careful in passing disaster information to the public. In the words of Blakemore and Longhorn (2001), we have witnessed the operational efficiency of different communication channels in the event of World Trade Center attack. the details and other related information regarding the terrorist attack were passed to the public through various communication channels such as authoritative journalistic channels, television, official political spokespersons, and web based news services. In that event, we have seen the flow of information that began from the moment of attack and continued through day by day developments. This practice has very much assisted the response team to effectively coordinate their activities and thereby greatly contribute to disaster relief operations. In addition, the concerned authorities could pass warning signals to public about the chances of subsequent terrorist attacks. Sometimes, the government may get intelligence reports regarding a future terrorist attack or other dreadful disaster. Effective communication channels are very beneficial in such situations to pass alarming information to the public in order to make them prepared. Blakemore and Longhorn (2001) say that coordinated operation of communication channels and rescue team have greatly mitigated the aftermath of WTC attack. The effective and thoughtful reporting of media greatly assisted the government to reestablish electricity and other necessary facilities for the citizens to recover the dead bodies of their family members. Fundamentals for crisis management It is precise that a disaster produces a series of crises across the affected region and it badly affects the day to day activities of the people. For instance, a severe disaster may destroy the affected area’s living necessities such as electricity connection, water distribution lines, and housing and transportation facilities. It is not practical to accommodate the victims in rescue shelters for a long period. hence, the concerned authorities must take necessary actions in order to fasten the rehabilitation activities of the disaster victims.