Summary

Disaster communication requires us to integrate risk communication, crisis communication, and emergency communication into a new form of communication that must address all the key elements of these types of communication while addressing various audiences who need to plan to communicate about disasters. When disaster communication works well, it sustains the public, energizes first responders and volunteers, and gets help to the victims quickly and effectively. During and immediately following the 9-11 attacks, then New York Mayor Giuliani was present, told the people of New York and the United States what was being done, how it was to be done, what the people needed to do in order to be as safe as possible, and what he was doing to support the first responders in their jobs. He gave frequent updates, dodged no questions, and when he didn't know something, said he didn't know but would get the answer. Then he followed through and got answers. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina came ashore in Mississippi and Louisiana and destroyed much of the area. In this disaster, no one emerged as an effective leader in Louisiana. The poor disaster communication stands in stark contrast to effectiveness of Mayor Giuliani during the 9-11 attacks.