Emergency Communications Toolkit

The checklists and materials in this section were designed to help you with pre-event planning and prioritizing communications activities during the first crucial hours of a public health emergency.

Source: Many of these worksheets were adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emergency Risk Communication materials.

Phases and Steps of the Emergency Risk Communications Process
Overview of the things to consider before, during and after emergency events.

Initial response
This template offers tips and sample language for responding to an emerging crisis before confirmation is received or all details are known. Although geared toward media response, they can be adapted for public inquiries as well.

Initial checklist
After verification of a biological agent or health threat, this checklist will help you prioritize questions, contact partners and begin developing your first messages for the media and the public.

Event Checklist
Questions to be asked by the communications team during the first hours of an emergency situation.

Identify audiences
This list will help identify different audiences and stakeholders, as well as the concerns specific to each group.

Communication Objectives and Channels by Target Audience
Plan messages for different audience groups.

Worksheet: Anticipated questions and answers
Consider key issues and plan responses using this worksheet.

Communicating in the First Hours
The Centers for Disease Control and prevention offers these tools to help you communicate with the public during the first crucial hours, including radio scripts, b-roll video and sound bites.

Message Development Worksheet
This tool can help you develop key messages.

Choosing the Spokesperson(s)
Things to consider when deciding on a spokesperson.

Crisis Communication Spokesperson Checklist
Checklist to help effectiveness of spokespeople and key messages.

Sample Assignment Checklists
Sample checklists for different communications functions and efforts. These are designed to help you understand critical communications functions. Always work with your assigned public information staff or emergency response partners.

Things to do before an emergency
There are things you can do now to prepare for emergency situations; this list will help.

Note: Use of these materials is not required. They were developed as resources to help in public health emergency planning and response. Always consult your agency's emergency plans and policies, and follow appropriate Incident Command System procedures.

Questions? We will continue to add resources to this site as they are developed. Please direct questions regarding this site or emergency communication resources to signs@doh.wa.gov.

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Last Update : 07/21/2008 03:31 PM
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