How can you communicate effectively with your clients or stakeholders after a disaster?

Information needs escalate during and after a disaster. People crave information to help them understand the current environment, determine what safety measures they need to take, and how to connect with recovery services and coping structures. Standard communication systems are an important communication layer, as are partnering with local and social media outlets. Social networks can help amplify officials messages, and it can provide insights about new threats that need to be on the radar for government officials and decision-makers. Share information frequently and in the forums where people gather. Don't make them have to find you. Be part of their networks.

The actual channels for communication have to be layered through cooperation; communication gaps have to be addressed and identified and articulated to all stakeholders.

Effectively communicating with stakeholders is paramount, during and following any disaster. Planning for disaster communications, however, should start long before a disaster strikes. Building connections, gathering contact data, understanding when, how, and what, as to communicate, what actions need to be taken based on the message, and ensuring communication pathways work are important to effective disaster communications. Creating a communications plan for your organization, including all of the items noted above and with input from your stakeholders, is a best practice that allows stakeholders to understand how communication will occur, and provides a roadmap for staff that are creating and disseminating communications to stakeholders.

To communicate effectively with clients or stakeholders after a disaster, provide timely and accurate updates using multiple platforms to ensure everyone is informed. Show empathy and understanding, acknowledging the situation and offering support. Clearly outline your recovery plan and reassure them of your commitment to resolving issues. Solicit feedback to adapt your communication strategies and address any concerns promptly.

Unless you are talking to a specific group that is comfortable with jargon/technical terms it is always better to assume that everyone is not coming from the same discipline so that everyone understands goals/objectives in clear terms.

Ooze empathy. If you are not empathetic, step away; there's another job for you somewhere else. Empathy is not sympathy. If you confuse the two, you may get punched. Encourage people to constantly reach out to others who are impacted to support them and be supported. Get routines going rapidly - consistent routines improve recovery. Provide a list of all mental health supports available and encourage use, diminishing any stigma or belief that they do not need support. Every individual has a unique experience, so never put others in the same box. Cry with them if you need to; it helps you and them show emotions. Even if someone is angry and hates you, show them you care for them.

"Build Back Better."Kill this phrase unless you enjoy having it thrown back in your face for years/decades. It is loved by politicians and hated by residents and emergency recovery managers. Recovery is rarely finished, as many communities are forever changed. Be honest. Tell people how things once were will be replaced with a "new normal." It's a new beginning that likely won't be "better," at least for some time. When we imply "better" and do not reach it for everyone, it isolates and destroys those who do not have it. Generally, residents will have these priorities when they move to recovery: 1. Family and friends. 2. Home and property. 3. Services and utilities. 4. Rebuilding losses.

Recovery without public engagement is a make-work project for governments and large corporations looking for upsells. You must involve the community members if you expect to know what the recovery needs are for that community. Ideally, you have already engaged the public during mitigation and preparation and will continue during response and recovery. Every individual conversation is a step towards recovery. Feeling heard improves mental well-being, as many need to tell their story as part of their healing and know they are part of a larger team. This is generally not a time for you to tell but to listen and coach with information which supports them. Always package what you hear into a report for larger exercises so you are accountable.

Remember that you are all working to provide stability in an environment where everyone is under stress; try to treat everyone with respect even when things start to fall apart.