Water Toolkit

Communication Types

Communication Steps

Related Sites

Water and Health

Environmental Health Division

Drinking Water Risk Communication Toolkit
Crisis Communications

Inform and help communities face extreme, sudden danger or a sudden change in operations - any time there is a possibility of an immediate health effect or crisis communication is needed
Communication strategies that can be implemented immediately
Examples: Communicating about loss of system pressure, overfeed of a chemical, pump failure, or a positive bacteriological sample

Every emergency is a unique situation. Call your system’s Drinking Water Protection Contact at MDH for communications assistance. For example, Drinking Water Protection staff have templates for Drinking Water Advisories that they will help customize to your specific situation.

Strategies and Tools

Develop a communication plan

Call your system’s Drinking Water Protection contact at MDH for support
A plan should contain resources that are ready to use when an issue arises

Inform people as soon as possible

Follow MDH Drinking Water Protection’s Emergency Response Guidance for Community Public Water Supplies (PDF) to notify local law enforcement, the State Duty Officer, MDH, and other necessary parties.

Print materials

Drinking Water Advisory/Public Notice

Web materials

Drinking Water Advisory/Public Notice Website – put notice online
Social media: Facebook (most used), Twitter
- Good for quick things, time-sensitive notices, engagement (questions/comments)

Other communication channels