Learning Center | skylabs

Crisis Communication Technology for Hurricane Season | skylabs

Written by The skylabs Team | Apr 2, 2020 10:02:54 PM

As emergencies and crisis take place (such as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and and the start of an above-normal hurricane season) we are currently witnessing, companies need an app that enables their team to collaborate better, respond faster and engage protocols intelligently.

That's exactly why we created our Crisis Communication app. See how it can benefit your emergency response team while out on the front lines.

Don’t Rely on Just One Source For Your Crisis Communication

With hurricane season, the need to be prepared is critically urgent.  

Employees should not rely on outdoor warning sirens as their primary warning method, in case of tornado and hurricanes you should:

  • Be sure your employees have enough time to find shelter

  • Develop a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP) as per OSHA requirements

  • Don’t rely on just one source for your crisis communication

  • Provide means for employee's communications to be sent out rapidly as conditions change.

Are your current channels sufficient? How can employers improve crisis communication during hurricane season?

Our Crisis Communication App is built to meet the needs of your emergency response team during times of crisis and hurricane season.

Let's dive into some of the specs and details to understand the app qualities, unique features, benefits and more!

App Qualities

Accessible Software 

This platform combines Power Apps, Power Automate, Microsoft Teams, and Sharepoint and can be used by a web browser, mobile app or Teams.

Report Work Status

Employees can report their work status (e.g., working from home) and make requests.

Push Notifications

Admins can create individualized push notifications to send news, updates, and content specific to their organization, and can provide emergency contacts specific to different locations.

RSS Feeds

The app includes the ability to add RSS feeds of up-to-date information from reputable sources such as WHO, CDC, or a local authority.

Unique Features

Here are some of the few unique features the Crisis Communication App includes:

Admin Settings

The app feature's special section for Administrators.

Easily update your crisis communication administrative settings such as admin email, logo URL, app URL, government RSS feed or any other RSS feed, and your notification method such as Teams.

Company News

Read what’s going on in your organization. Any news that is related to internal employee crisis communication is in here.

World News

Read about what’s going on around the world! This is an auto updated with crisis communication news feed from around the world

Helpful Tips

View helpful tips for reference on preventative measures or outbreak management

FAQ

View the answers to commonly asked questions regarding times of crisis.

Links

View external links to articles and information online.

Emergency Contacts

View emergency contacts for your crisis communication team

Make a Request

Send a request to your crisis communication team administrator.

App Benefits

Here are some reasons why the Crisis Communication App can benefit your team:

Organizational-Specific Branding

We set up your team's version of the app with organizational-specific branding and all the features and content you need to execute during critical situations.

Simple and Easy to Use

We focus on the complexity behind the scenes so that your team can focus less on the technical aspects, and more on the crisis at hand. 

  • No logins

  • No web-developers

  • Simple on-the-go maintenance.

Bring Your Crisis Team Together

Maintain Your Team's Communication and Location - Bring your crisis team together digitally regardless of their location or time of day using the app collaboration features.

  • Use shared checklists to assign and track key activities

  • Start secure chat threads safely with your teams

  • Receive incident reports for your stakeholders

Having the ability to keep everyone coordinated through one platform is instrumental to your response, ongoing communication, and ultimate success as an emergency response team.

Why Use A Mobile App?

Accessibility

  • Fast, decisive action and real-time updates activated in minutes.

  • Bulky 3-ring binder hard copy plans are inconvenient to access, update and distribute

  • User-friendly mobile apps allow for quick updating

Availability

  • Crisis communication plan can be available on any smart device and in the hands of your team via smart phone, smart watches, and tablets

  • Plans are available even if your intranet goes down

  • With your communication plan stored in the Cloud, it is accessible from any location around the globe, at any time

Why use Microsoft Teams?

  • If your organization is licensed for Office 365, you already have it!

  • Everyone now has the ability to get Teams for free! Even if without an O365 license

What Instances Can The App Benefit?

The Crisis Communication App is designed to help assist your company with incident and employee reporting cases, including (but not limited to):

Want to Learn More?

Ready to put information directly into employees' hands immediately, instead of them rummaging around looking for it?