10 TIPS TO REMEMBER WHEN REAL CRISIS STRIKES

Dear Publicity friends,

Per Michael Odle, public affairs officer at Oregon Air National Guard reserves, as told in PR news, here are 10 tips to remember when crisis strikes.

1. You must have a plan that outlines roles and responsibilities, what to do, where to go, and what can and cannot be released.

2. Have pre-developed talking points. Odle shoots for 20 themes with five talking points per theme.

3. Make press conferences more than just a press conference. Include Web casting and online re-broadcasts of press conferences.

4. Use technology. Olde's team sent tweets calling fo immediate volunteers for sandbagging during flood operations.

5. Utilize local relationships. Use local opionion leaders to augment your story.

6. Release information ASAP. Even if it's sparse, release something.

7. Have a pre-developed (fill-in-the-blank) news released to save time.

8. Monitor errors in facts and immediately correct.

9. Supply pocket messaging cards for all responders

10.Stay calm. People respond better to a calm demeanor.

Olde used these tactics during wildfires in California, the worst firefighter aviation accident in U.S. history and the recent emergency flood operations in North Dakota