A Communication Plan Can Help Your Business During a Crisis
This post is part of a weekly series focused on .
When disaster strikes, communicating critical and time-sensitive information to your business or HBA stakeholders is key to ensuring the safety of staff and continuity of business operations. Adding to further complexity, communications infrastructure could be damaged limiting cell phone service or internet connections. Developing a crisis communication plan before an emergency can help your business or HBA execute a well-organized response.
Communications during disasters can encompass a range of messages from conveying vital emergency plans to employees to airing public safety announcements (PSAs) to consumers. A crisis communication plan should include key audiences, tailored information for each audience and guidance on how to relay the information to your target audiences.
To help you develop a comprehensive crisis communication plan, consider the following:
- Identify Your Audiences/Stakeholders. Which internal and external contacts are essential to your business or HBA core operations? Management teams, board members, employees, vendors and customers all require different information at different times during a disaster or emergency. Develop a contact sheet with telephone numbers and email address to have on hand and quickly reference. You may want to consider creating a “web” or contact map that shows how groups relate to your business.
- Tailor Content for Your Audiences. Examine what types of information are appropriate for each audience before, during and after a disaster or crisis scenario. Examples include sharing emergency plans with employees, sending job site instructions for sub-contractors or suppliers, providing resources for members or disseminating safety information to the public. Create a spreadsheet with links to internal documents, government websites or PSAs you can easily access and share with your various audiences.
- Determine Communications Channels. Evaluate the best way to get messaging out to your audience such as in-person, paper or email, radio, telephone, social media or television. The type of information will determine the best communication channel whether it be radio to transmit a PSA or a telephone call to reach the management team. Make sure to plan for communications redundancies as certain channels may not be available due to disaster impacts.
For more information on general crisis communication plans, visit . Questions? Contact Jonathan Falk.
Latest from Æðµã´«Ã½Now
May 09, 2025
How CertainTeed One Precision Assemblies Accelerates Construction with Factory-Built PrecisionWith the demand for housing in today’s fast-paced construction environment, time is money — and quality is everything. That’s why more developers, general contractors, and home builders are turning to offsite construction solutions like CertainTeed One Precision Assemblies.
May 08, 2025
How an Æðµã´«Ã½ Student Chapter Alumnus Found His Residential Construction PassionLawrence Thompson III's eye for design and architecture led him to Æðµã´«Ã½'s Student Competition. Now the project manager is working a full-time job that fits his skills and passions.
Latest Economic News
May 09, 2025
Consumer credit continued to rise in early 2025, but the pace of growth has slowed. Student loan balances rose year-over-year as borrowers resumed payments following the end of pandemic-era relief. However, growth remains modest.
May 08, 2025
Multifamily developers are starting the year in a cautious state, according to Q1 2025 results from the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released today by the Æðµã´«Ã½ (Æðµã´«Ã½). The MMS produces two separate indices.
May 07, 2025
The Federal Reserve remained on pause with respect to rate cuts at the conclusion of its May meeting, maintaining the federal funds rate in the 4.25% to 4.5% range. Characterizing current market conditions, the central bank noted that the “unemployment rate has stabilized at a low level in recent months, and labor market conditions remain solid.” However, the Fed noted that “inflation remains somewhat elevated.”