How to Prepare for a Communications Crisis

Preparing for a crisis starts by asking: “what would we do if ‘X’ happened?”

Sketch out responses to scenarios you can envision. Develop a list of members who can help. Draft relevant member communications, press statements and talking points. Create a team of representatives from every department and establish a dedicated conference bridge so the team can be activated within minutes.

These steps by themselves won’t solve the crisis, but they will save critical time and resources when the crisis arises. Too often, the failure to develop a response system is the biggest mistake an association makes in a crisis.

– Glenn Ruskin, Vice President, External Affairs & Communications, American Chemical Society