Crisis Committee versus media: implications for the dialogue with the local community

In recent decades, the study of natural disasters has become more important in the academic research, leading to a variety of methods for the evaluation of the public communication with the local community. Mileti (1999) develops a model for the Communication management during the disasters and defines the basic assignments of the Crisis Committee for the relationship with the media groups. Based on this paradigm, the paper analyzes the Communication of the Blumenau City Hall (in Southern Brazil) through the environmental disaster of November 2008, when the floods affected more than 100,000 people. Based on the testimony of the radio professionals, which broadcasted the events live, the research examines the actions which the government adopted at the different moments of the tragedy. Research results indicate the challenges for the effective public Communication before, during and after the natural disasters, situations which disrupt the dialogue with the local community.

Communication; Natural disasters; Local community; Regional development