Communications in a crisis
In the event of an emergency or potential emergency that could impact members of the Memorial University community, every effort will be made to ensure factual, complete information is available as quickly as possible.
It is Memorial’s goal to communicate with everyone who may be significantly affected – faculty and staff, students, families, alumni, visitors to campus and the public – and to work with response agencies and with the media to ensure effective and forthright communication.
In some circumstances, information may be withheld to protect the privacy of individuals involved, or at the request of police or other experts when disclosure may trigger greater hazards to someone (e.g. in the case of kidnappings or hostage situations) or impair an ongoing investigation.
Venues and vehicles for communication
In the event of a crisis, these communications vehicles will be used to transmit information:
- information on website: www.mun.ca
- messages sent through email distribution
- news releases: on-line at www.mun.ca/marcomm/news
- media briefings
- info centres, staffed by Memorial employees
- switchboard message: 737-8000
- public briefings and presentations, where appropriate
- telephone call-out (activation of established telephone tree)
- printed information bulletins, postings
- telephone broadcasts (under development)
- advertising, where appropriate
Information for the campus community and
others affected
In the event a crisis has affected a significant number of people, a Reception and Inquiry Centre will be established to provide for the registration, shelter and protection of evacuees.
Inquiries on the whereabouts of those affected will also be coordinated at the R & I Centre. Special telephone enquiry lines will be activated and staffed by Memorial personnel to take enquiries. The phone numbers will be publicized broadly.
NOTE: In an emergency, phone lines can become overwhelmed. Please limit your use of both land lines and mobile phones to essential, brief calls.
Employees' role in the information chain
The cooperation and support of everyone on campus will help ensure information is disseminated rapidly and accurately in a crisis. Employees will be asked to:
- distribute communications as requested to those with whom you work, remembering to include those who may be away or outside the usual channels for email and phone (Note: it is always better for someone to hear information twice than not to hear it at all.)
- post bulletins as requested in common areas
- remind others where official information can be found (website, etc.)
- contact your own family/loved ones who may be worried to let them know you are safe
- advise Marketing & Communications – 8663 -- if you become aware of erroneous information or misleading rumours relating to the crisis
- refer media enquiries to Marketing & Communications - 8663.
