Communicating Under Fire: Crisis Communications During the Recent OC Wildfires

March 20, 2008

Featured Guest Speakers:
Kris Concepcion, Communications Chief, Orange County Fire Authority
Suzie Suh, Reporter, CBS2/KCAL9





It was a crisis the whole country was watching, and after only six days on the job, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion was called on to be the local spokesperson during the 2007 Santiago wildfire. Working with multiple national and local news networks around the clock, hear how Concepcion, who oversees the OCFA's Corporate Communications Office, executed a plan to communicate pertinent information to local residents and the general public-all while details were changing by the minute and OCFA was fighting for airtime against other ongoing California fires. Hear also from Suzie Suh, who spent weeks reporting from the fire lines for CCBS2/KCAL9, working with the PIOs including Concepcion and disseminating information in a dynamic situation.

Points of discussion will include:

• Communication response through the various phases of a crisis.
• Determining priority media messages in a crisis situation.
• Identifying target audiences and strategy for reaching them.
• Working with the media in a crisis situation.
• Demonstrating leadership and building and maintaining confidence.
• Lessons learned.

WHEN:
Thursday, March 20, 2008
11:30 a.m. - Noon: Networking and Registration
Noon - 12:30 p.m.: Luncheon
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Program

LOCATION:
Tustin Banquet Center
721 West First St., Tustin 92780