Please refer to the attached example for how you should format your Briefing Note for this assignment as it differs from the information shared above. This example is specific for identifying communications challenges and making recommendations to overcome them.

Step 1: Identify a crisis or disaster that had issues with communications. Conduct a Google search, review After Action Reviews, read news articles - almost every situation cites communication barriers or challenges.

Step 2: Identify at least one and up to three challenges based on these lessons this week and the readings.

Step 3. Format your assignment exactly like the example included. Use the same headings and analyze the information to fit into each heading.

Step 4: For assignment purposes, include your references in APA style.

Example:

Title:

Barriers to Effective Communication During the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire

Issue:

Municipalities across Alberta have a responsibility to their residents to provide timely and accurate information during a crisis. Communication broke down during the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire, suggesting improvements could be made for the provision of timely and accurate information to residents during a crisis.

Background

The Horse River wildfire started on May 1, 2016, in a forested area seven kilometres outside of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Within two days, the wildfire entered Fort McMurray requiring a full-scale mandatory evacuation (close to 88,000 people). The fire threatened nearby First Nations communities, oil sands camps and facilities, critical infrastructure.

Barriers to Communication - Observations

1. Absence of information sharing between agencies
2. Absence of Public Alert Notification System
3. Mixed messages were received regarding evacuations

Analysis/Recommendations

1. Absence of information sharing between agencies:

The initial establishment of two command centres and challenges in sharing information resulted in crews not being informed of the fire's proximity to Fort McMurray.

Recommendation: Agencies need to establish a joint information distribution platform that ensures up-to-date field data is received by all agencies in a continuous cycle of information sharing.

1. Absence of a Public Alert Notification System

Residents of Fort McMurray turned to social media for evacuation information. However, not everyone has access to social media, and there is an opportunity for misinformation to be shared if agencies do not monitor channels.

Recommendation: When evaluating the risks that could impact a community, Public Notification Systems are a good addition to the municipalities' toolbox. A system can notify entire communities of imminent danger within minutes via cell phones, landlines, and emails.

1. Mixed messages were received regarding evacuation

Due to the challenges of information sharing between agencies, the information shared was not accurate. At the 11:00 a.m. news conference, the public learned that "an evacuation was a long way off" (CP, June 8, 2017), but, in reality, the community evacuated a few hours later.

Recommendation: A unified voice sharing information as a credible source is paramount during a crisis. Please verify information with all authorities and agencies before releasing it into the public domain to avoid mixed messaging and confusion.

Conclusion

Disasters and crises of this magnitude require governments at all levels and agencies to work collaboratively to support public safety. It is recommended future opportunities such as Table Top Exercises or Simulation Exercises include those who would be responding to the disaster with a focus on how inter-agency communication, public information dissemination and the management of information would function in real-time.