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Weather Crisis
Media Training |
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It was during the
early days of June, 2001 when a previously insignificant
tropical storm called Allison parked off of the Texas
Gulf Coast and led to one of the most damaging weeks in
Houston history. During the second week of March, 1993,
a storm eventually dubbed “The Storm of the Century”
swept across the Eastern United States, causing record
low temperatures, wind speeds and leading to the deaths
of an astounding 250 people. In the summer of 1999, an
uncharacteristically strong storm rolled through Salt
Lake City, causing a tornado to touch down and roll
through the downtown area, killing one person and
hurting 100 others. The weather is unpredictable and a
weather crisis can strike with little to no warning. A
crisis such as the flooding in Houston and the “Storm
of the Century” draws a great deal of media attention,
particularly when such a crisis leads to the tragic loss
of life. The ability to deal with members of the media
during a crisis is a crucial skill, one that must be
learned and refreshed via training and skills practice.
Our Weather Crisis Media Training program provides
public officials, relief workers, government
representatives and other media-facing professionals
with the ability to effectively manage a weather crisis
situation with the media.
Given that a weather crisis can strike without
warning, those who must deal with the media need to be
equipped to quickly and efficiently respond in a
credible manner. The Weather Crisis Media Training
workshop is a two-day training program that empowers
individuals to interact with the media during a weather
crisis, regardless of the size, damage or tragedy
involved. This crisis media training workshop will equip
participants with the training tools and crisis
communication skills required to inform, educate and
report to the public and media. These vital
communication skills can be utilized by multiple
agencies, regardless of their role in dealing with the
media during a weather crisis. These training
methodologies can also be used by organizations that may
need to interact with the media long after the severe
stages of a weather crisis have passed and the media
needs to receive updates or additional information.
Multiple simulated press conferences and media briefing
situations are utilized to provide crisis media
participants with weather crisis skill practice.
Personalized coaching sessions provide individual
feedback from a training instructor. Training modules,
application exercises, question and answer sessions,
media skill usage and other activities are used to
reinforce the learning process in this crisis media
training workshop.
Weather Crisis Media Training program participants
will learn to:
 | Understand the issues faced during a weather
crisis |
| Deal with the emotions of anxious crowds and
inquisitive members of the media |
| Properly interact with the media during a crisis |
| Enhance image and credibility when conveying
weather crisis information |
| Use training skills to determine media attitudes
and needs |
| Overcome nervousness during a high pressure crisis
situation |
| Use visual aids and other media to reinforce a
message |
| Conduct face-to-face and telephone media
interviews during a crisis |
| Satisfy the media’s needs during a crisis while
focusing on key messages |
| Present accurate information without appearing
misinformed |
| Plan a crisis media presentation and build a
statement based on training skills |
| Maintain control under the most challenging
situations |
| Deal with the difficulties faced when a loss of
life is involved |
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