Communities have tremendous responsibility for managing and coordinating emergency response. During the early stages of an emergency it is very difficult to develop timely, effective and consistent public messages. In fact public messaging is often not addressed. This can result in public actions that hinder rather than help the response.
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council has developed an easy to use guide and template for developing crisis communication. The Message Map Template will save you valuable time during the early stages of an emergency when your main focus is on other aspects of the response.
When you use the template, your messages will be short, simple and easily understood. They will give your target audiences key information to address their concerns as well as yours, thereby supporting the response. You can use the message “sound bites” in a wide variety of applications: press briefings, interviews, social media postings and fact sheets. Additionally with messages in hand, you can coordinate with others in your community to ensure consistent messaging. This will avoid public confusion and build trust in your response.
The template is an easy to use form with four sections. It is available as a fillable PDF or as a Word Document (both below) that can be modified to meet local needs.
The four sections include:
- Guidance about crisis messaging
- An assessment of the emergency to help ensure that you identify a target audience and understand their key information needs.
- A message map to write 3 short messages, each with 3 supporting points.
- Message evaluation, review by town departments and communication channels.
Message Mapping / Crisis Communication Tools
- WRHSAC Message Mapping Development Guide -pdf – this document will help you understand what message mapping is and where and how to begin. Source: Dr. Vincent T. Covello
- WRHSAC Message Map Template fill-able PDF Source: Dr. Vincet T. Covello (PHD) The Center for Risk Communication
- WRHSAC Message Map Template – Word version Source: Dr. Vincet T. Covello (PHD) The Center for Risk Communication
- WRHSAC Completed Message Map example – pdf – an example to show you what a completed message map looks like
- Questions most frequently asked by the media – pdf – some questions to help you think about the information you need to provide.
- Source: Dr. Vincet T. Covello (PHD) The Center for Risk Communication
- Crisis Messaging Examples – pdf – messages prepared for some common incidents or disasters – can help you with language for your messages.
- Creating Effective Crisis Information Messages – PowerPoint – slides from Message Mapping training. Information based on work by Dr. Vincent T. Covell (PHD) The Center for Risk Communication