Real-Time Communications

Times of crisis require the dissemination of timely and accurate information. Due to the unexpected and threatening nature of a crisis, citizens depend upon various forms of notification to gain information, decrease uncertainty, and elevate self-efficacy. Communication and proactive community engagement are key elements of effective risk and crisis response. Emergency preparedness initiatives must be a collective, community effort, connecting resources and message dissemination plans to meet specific needs of the community. Regardless of the benefits of a message channel, the advantages cannot be realized unless community members are aware of the functions, responsibilities, and ways to access message channels during times of crisis. Although there are [Page 545]a variety of technologies available to disseminate information, a few particular channels demonstrate unique advantages of real-time ...