6 people to call when crisis strikes

Any worthwhile public relations strategy should include a crisis communications plan.

Unfortunately, many organization fail to consider that something might go awry, and when disaster strikes, they are utterly unprepared. A key aspect of a crisis communications plan is determining who should be called in and consulted when a response is needed.

With a nod to “Ghostbusters,” it pays to establish “who ya gonna call” when a crisis strikes. Here are six common first responders who should be prepped and kept in the loop:

1. The CEO/president

As Harry Truman was fond of saying, “The buck stops here.” The CEO or president is often the public face of a company during a crisis. These top executives set the tone for the organization, so they should be an integral part of the crisis planning process.

CEOs aren’t always the best choice to quell crises, but they should at least be up to speed on every aspect of crisis prep and response.

2. General counsel or organization attorney