Your first choices for staffing help will likely lie within your own organization. However, if like Susan, internal help is in short supply, asking external organizations could be an option. There are several factors to consider when doing this.

What are some of these factors? (check all that apply)

	Political factors
	Logistical factors
	Other organizations’ likely staffing loads during an emergency
	The level of expertise that you want or need

You may not have selected all of these or you may think there are other factors to consider, but all of these factors could definitely come into play when you begin working with external organizations.

There are no hard and fast rules for how you go about soliciting help from outside your organization. However, there are some strategies that could help you in this task. Look at the list below.

When pre-planning for staffing prior to an event, which of these strategies could have helped Susan? (check all that apply)

	Thinking creatively
	Doing her homework on organizations and their capabilities
	Getting commitments, in writing if possible, for assistance in times of emergency
	Looking for a diverse set of organizations and resources to penetrate the community quickly
	Finding backups for the most important tasks
	Waiting until there was plenty of information about the crisis to begin checking for any possibilities of external help

All of these items, except the last one can be very helpful.

The Staffing Planning Worksheet is a good resource for pre-planning that can help make sure that all jobs/tasks covered, either by internal or external resources.

Next, try your hand at this activity designed to give you practice in identifying alternatives for staffing some of the needed functions for a crisis communication response. If you had difficulty with this activity, go back and review the resources and references before continuing.

 

Summary

When considering how you may be able to supplement your internal staff with support from individuals or organizations outside your organization, keep in mind the factors and tips listed above. In the activity you just completed, you should have tried each individual in all positions to see their various responses. (Activity 2 response chart.)

Finally, you may want to see if there are any additional individuals or organizations that you can include in the list below when you begin considering external support for your organization. Here are some ideas to consider:

List of Possible External Organizations

Writing Messages

• Local hospital's public information officer
• Local Red Cross chapter's public information officer
• Local universities’ communication/public health professors and staff
• Retired professionals and leaders in senior citizens’ organizations.
• School districts

Acting as Communication Channels

• Amateur radio clubs/ham operators
• EMS communications center
• Faith-based organizations
• Health and Human Services organizations (e.g., local Red Cross chapter, walk-in health clinics)
• Local cultural or social clubs (e.g., Asian-American clubs, Spanish culture clubs, Boys Clubs, Girls Clubs, YMCA, etc.)
• Local emergency communications board (9-1-1 Board)
• Local radio/television personalities
• Teachers/school administrators

Training for Official Spokespersons

• Law enforcement public information officer
• Local hospital's public information officer
• Local Red Cross chapter's public information officer
• Pastors/clergy
• Retired professionals and leaders in senior citizens’ organizations