Quick Start Guide Natural Gas Utilities

SECTION 01 : EVALUATING NEEDS, SECURING SPONSORSHIP

The information in this guide is based on national norms and will likely need to be adapted to your specific market. It’s also important to design a program around your utility’s specific goals that includes defined audiences, effectiveness measurements, and continuous improvement strategies. The importance of demonstrated leadership commitment to your Public Safety Communications Program cannot be understated. The resources required for the maintenance and continuous improvement of a Public Safety Communications Program are critical, as known risks and best practices are continually evolving. Addressing these concerns by establishing specific program goals and then using an integrated communications approach coupled with a systematic improvement cycle has been shown to be far more effective than addressing each safety topic and audience individually through a single channel. A high level of utility commitment and executive sponsorship increases the likelihood that risks are continually identified and mitigated, rather than program budgets only being targeted toward preventing past incident types. As its name implies, this is a guide to developing Public Safety Communications Programs quickly. It is intended to help organize your current programs and suggest other topics that your utility may want to address. The following section provides a programmatic approach to public safety communications and is followed by key messages to consider. For each topic, you will find background information and incident examples, as well as target audiences, communication channels, and ways to measure the effectiveness of your program.

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Developing a Public Safety Communications Program