Communicating About a Response

Assisting affected facilities is rewarding work, and it is understandable that responders and the facilities that deploy them want to tell others about a response. But it’s important to communicate responsibly. When we respond to a disaster we are helping colleagues on their worst days, and some of the details are not for public consumption.

Facilities that deploy teams often post about their response work on their social media, and provide press releases to their local media. One told us the public relations value of deploying a team far exceeded the costs associated with the deployment. The added benefit is demonstrating to the public that zoological facilities take care of their own.

ZDR3 does not name the facilities we respond to unless they wish to make their situation public. Some do, many do not. That means being thoughtful about the types of images we use, and what we say. To that end, ZDR3 provides guidance and assistance to communications personnel at impacted facilities, and to those who have deployed teams to assist them.