If you and your team were summoned at 3 a.m. on a Sunday, would you be in place one hour later? That was the case for Kena Lewis, director, public affairs & media relations, Orlando Health, and other members of the Incident Command Team. The photo, taken at 4 a.m., Sunday, June 12, 2016, shows Orlando Regional Medical Center president Mark Jones (extreme right; Lewis is to his right, standing, arms folded) briefing the Team. Just hours earlier, a gunman entered Pulse nightclub, killing 49 people and wounding 58. Earlier this month, Lewis discussed crisis preparation during PR News’ Digital & Video Summit in Miami.
Fortunately, crisis procedures are ingrained in Orlando Health’s staff due to extensive preparation. Each of its hospitals drills at least quarterly, Lewis tells us in an interview. There’s also a yearly community drill, involving third parties, such as fire, police and ambulance companies. The drills’ goal is “to learn where your gaps are,” she says. Held just weeks prior to the Pulse incident, the scenario for the 2016 community drill ironically was a live shooter.
The bottom slide shows a page from Orlando Health’s crisis plan. It contains a bevy of pre-fabricated compassion and safety phrases communicators can access during a crisis. Having phrases ready makes crafting statements easier, which can be helpful during a crisis, Lewis says.
CONTACT: [email protected]
