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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.
Step
1: Verify situation.
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Have all of the
facts been received? (to the best of your knowledge)
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Was information
obtained from additional sources to put event in perspective?
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Was the
information's origin ascertained?
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Was the
information source's credibility ascertained?
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Is the information
consistent with other sources?
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Is the
characterization of the event plausible?
Step 2: Conduct notifications.
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Have
notifications/contacts been made to the appropriate persons in
your organization?
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Has your core team
been briefed?
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Has your senior
management group been notified?
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Has your
communication team been briefed?
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Have the elected
officials at all levels been notified?
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Have the
appropriate local and county agencies been notified?
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Have the
appropriate state agencies been notified?
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Have the
appropriate federal agencies been notified?
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Have other groups
(e.g., board members, clients, residents) been notified?
Step 3: Assess level of crisis.
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Has a crisis level
(A,B,C,D) been identified that corresponds to the event
characteristics?
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Have the hours of
operation for the communication team been established?
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Has jurisdiction
over information been established?
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Will federal
agencies release information or will states?
Step 4: Organize and give assignments.
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Are the functional
teams activated?
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Are the
spokespeople activated?
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Have you decided
on the operation and schedule?
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Were specific
assignments given to each team or function?
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Do all those
involved know their role and immediate tasks?
Step 5: Prepare information and obtain approvals.
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Have you planned
for a timely release?
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Has the accuracy
of all information been checked?
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Does the message
show compassion?
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Were the specific
audience concerns addressed?
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Does the message
meet the criteria of good message development? (see
Message
Development Worksheet)
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Have you
anticipated media questions and developed answers?
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Has the message
been cleared for release?
Step 6: Release information to public.
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Have you released
information as quickly as possible?
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Was the same
information given to all media at the same time?
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Was the
information released to other groups as planned? (e.g.,
partners, legislators, special interest groups)
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Was the
information released through other channels as planned? (e.g.,
Web, 800 number, mailings, meetings,)
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