Theoretical perspectives on emergency communications

Communication during emergencies is examined. Relevant studies and theories from public relations, psychology, sociology, and management are identified and analyzed as they apply to organizational emergency communication situations. Strategies and tactics from these theoretical perspectives are suggested as a necessary supplement to those already available from first-hand experience. The framework used is strategic factors in the choice of a model of public relations, which suggests that the specific model(s) of public relations and organization practices is determined by the interactions of environmental independencies, organizational culture, power holders, schema for public relations, public relations potential, and the choice of strategic publics. It is suggested that these same strategic factors determine the type(s) of emergency communication response an organization makes. Theoretical constructs relevant to emergency communications within each factor are identified and examined