DISASTERS - Keep The Info Flowing Freely AND Easily Accessible

There were complaints among reporters - that information were hard to come by during the recent Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy. Victims, understandably, were reluctant to speak to the press. The authorities were also similarly Press-shy. As a result, all sorts of speculation were rumoured - including that of massive looting that went on when house owners were asked to evacuate for their own safety at the disaster zone. Even the police chief had to appeal to the public not to spred rumours about the looting as he instructs his men to secure the abandoned homes and look out for looters.

Today, a smart company has got an information centre up and running and from its effort, perhaps the disaster management committees of the future could put the setting up of an information base as priority in disaster relief. A centralised info centre will keep everyone enlightened and update on the true situation.

Skali, an e-business enterprise, has taken a commendable step to assist the disaster relief by using Blogger to set up their web presence here.

Operating from the Burger King outlet next to the Petronas service station, it is spearheaded by its CEO.

According to Bernama, the team would provide food and drinks to people affected by the landslide as well as vital information from its SMS alerts.

"We inform the affected residents from our database of more than 300 house owners on information like when they can move into their homes or the status of the electricity connections. We are always in touch with the authorities so that the information is authenticated"

In any crisis, information - correct information - should be made available to all. Public relations mangers should think about it in the aftermath of the Bukit Antarabangsa Landslide Tragedy