Marc Mullen’s Post

Those of us with friends or relatives living in Houston have been paying close attention to the reports of hurricane Beryl, now moving further inland as as tropical storm. While preparation for a major storm is critical, as it is for any major crisis, sometimes all your prep doesn't quite prepare you for the crisis presented. Then you must improvise based on your skills, knowledge, and grit. Not everyone can work in that chaotic environment. But Amanda Coleman managed it pretty well when a terrorist attacked an Ariana Grande concert in the UK. She recounts her experience for Tom Mueller and me, at leadinginacrisis.com. Join the three of us in our second podcast featuring Amanda's experience in the Ariana Grande concert bombing in Manchester, England. #crisiscommunications https://lnkd.in/gHFbz4rk

Pop artist Ariana Grande put on a fantastic show for thousands of her fans at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Young and old, her fans raved, right up to the point where things turned deadly. On that day, the elation of concert goers would be short lived as a suicide bomber detonated a backpack bomb in the venue. The explosion took 22 lives and injured hundreds more – a horrific end to an otherwise wonderful evening for attendees. The year was 2017. Amanda Coleman served as lead press officer for the Greater Manchester Police for that incident. On the latest episodes of the Leading in a Crisis Podcast, Amanda recounts for us the chaos of the early hours and the challenges of communicating effectively for this incident, which saw many people go to the concert and never come home again. The police response team faced a challenge they hadn’t seen before - dealing with families of the many victims even while the police investigation was ramping up. To further complicate things, the UK government activated it’s anti-terrorism response and activated Cobra - the government’s cabinet level crisis management body. All focused on the Manchester attack. Press attention was intense on the incident, the police response, and the government response. How did the Manchester Police team escalate their response, staffing, and work shifts? Amanda walks Tom Mueller and I through the details. https://lnkd.in/g6hJmM7Z https://lnkd.in/gHFbz4rk #emergencyresponse #crisiscomms #UKcrisiscomms #pio #pressofficer #arianagrande #crisismanagement

In the middle of a response, we can get wrapped up in the pace and pressure of the moment and forget that we're in the room because something has happened that impacts people. Yet as communicators, we are supposed to be the 'people people' in the room. How do we navigate the chaos of a natural disaster while ensuring cultural respect and effective communication? Join Tom Mueller and me as we dive into the compelling and heart-wrenching story of the Lahaina wildfire in Hawaii through the eyes of Michael Brogan, a seasoned public affairs expert. He recounts the sheer devastation he witnessed in Lahaina and the complex, multi-agency recovery efforts that ensued. Michael shares the challenges of communicating the EPA's mission in an environment where traditional information channels were obliterated, offering a vivid portrayal akin to his deployments in war zones. Special thanks to you, Michael, for so clearly sharing the impact of the Lahaina disaster on your life, both personal and professional. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any channel where you get your podcasts. #crisiscomms #crisismanagement #lahaina https://lnkd.in/gAXj2cwe

What's it like stepping into a leadership role for a major crisis response where there may be 200 or 300 responders, including state and federal regulators, and thousands of concerned members of the public needing information from you? Few of us will actually get that experience in our careers, but many of us get a feel for it through crisis exercises. If done well, these exercises create tension, pressure, and a very realistic sense of dealing with a real crisis. It's scary. On the latest episodes of The Leading in a Crisis Podcast, Marc Mullen and I talk with two emerging leaders from Occidental Petroleum, William Fitzgerald and Celina Cárdenas Fleites, who stepped into leadership roles for the first time for a recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill drill. They served as Public Information Officer and Deputy PIO for this major drill, working as part of the unified command team for Oxy. They worked alongside reps from the US Coast Guard, the Texas General Land Office and several hundred other responders practicing how to effectively manage a major oil spill. They share their thoughts and feelings about the experience, and also share some advice on how to be successful in these leadership roles. Join us via your favorite podcast channel to hear their stories. Do you have experiences to share as well? Send us a message using the link on the episode page. Or just reach out to Tom Mueller or me via LinkedIn. https://lnkd.in/gFp9mqYB

On this week's episode of The Leading in a Crisis Podcast, Tom Mueller and I chat with John Breed, manager of external and community affairs at energy company ChampionX. John has worked for quite a few CEOs over the course of his career and we have a great discussion about the role of the CEO in a crisis. We also discuss what makes a good crisis exercise and the importance of building bench strength and muscle memory by putting different executives in the chair to lead the corporate response team. John led communications for an offshore drilling company at one point and shares some stories around dealing with the unique aspects of crisis situations involving offshore drilling. All podcasts run only 20-25 minutes, so are an easy fit for a workout or running errands. Please join us for the conversation! #Resiliency #EmergencyManagement #CrisisManagment #LessonsLearned #EmergencyPreparedness

Emergency situations don't come with a playbook, so when they strike, it's leaders like incident commander Daniel J Smiley who orchestrate the chaos into coherence. In this episode, Dan reveals the behind-the-scenes drama when multiple agencies, such as the EPA and Coast Guard, must unite under the banner of Unified Command. Dan gives a gripping account of a vessel grounding off the coast of California, unraveling the complexities of authority, collaboration, and the decision-making that pivots on the signing of the Incident Action Plan. As Tom Mueller and I discuss these challenges with Dan, he shines a light on the stark contrasts between rehearsed exercises and the unpredictable nature of real crises, where every decision carries weight. Navigating through the fiery aftermath of the Genius Star 11 ship incident, our conversation with Dan evolves into an intricate look at adaptability in leadership roles. We examine how the response can swell or contract as necessary, transitioning from public information efforts to liaison-focused strategies.  #crisiscomms #crisismanagement

Prepare to navigate the stormy seas of crisis management as Tom Mueller and I welcome the unparalleled expertise of Daniel J Smiley, whose storied career has taken him from the decks of the Coast Guard to the forefront of oil spill response. As a consultant and podcast voice on crisis leadership, Dan steps aboard our show to chart the integration of AI into the realm of incident command. With anecdotes from the field and an insider's perspective, he brings to life the transformative impact of AI tools like ChatGPT in sculpting dynamic response strategies and propelling software innovation in crisis scenarios. Our conversation then shifts to a more turbulent current – the murky waters of AI-generated graphics and the scourge of misinformation. Battling through the challenges of crafting our podcast logo with AI, we expose the ironic complexities of technology that's simultaneously advancing and leading astray. Witness how deceptively realistic visuals, such as those of a fabricated ship fire, can undermine public trust during real-life emergencies. We explore the indispensable role of Public Information Officers in this new age, armed with the latest rhetorical armor to combat an onslaught of AI-spun fallacies that threaten the integrity of truth in our digitally dominated world. Reach Tom Mueller at tom@leadinginacrisis.com Reach Marc Mullen at marcmullenccc@gmail.com Reach Dan Smiley via LinkedIn. https://lnkd.in/ePqaekF6

Join Tom Mueller and me for an engaging conversation around risk communication (not the same as crisis communication) with Ann Hayward Walker, a seasoned scientific advisor who has worked major incidents including Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez. Ann has spent many years exploring how people process perceived risk and how an incident management team can effectively communicate around risk issues. How does she recommend managing the difficult issue of risk communication? Hint: It isn't through the PIO or Liaison teams. Ann also tells us why she prefers information to facts in an emergency response context. There's a lot to unpack here. Please join us! #crisiscomms