(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-16 07:11

The timely release of essential information by authorities can help prevent chaos and panic in emergency situations, says an editorial in Guangzhou Daily. The following is an excerpt:

When Zhanjiang, in South China's Guangdong Province, was hit by a huge storm on Sunday, a rumor also spread widely in the city claiming a major earthquake would strike once the storm stopped.

To prevent mass panic, the provincial metrological department sent 2.8 million text messages to cell-phone users in the city saying the rumor was unfounded.

These helped eradicate people's fears and restore order.

This is a good example of crisis management. A potentially harmful rumor was quelled by the swift release of information by the authorities.

Such a release honors the public's right to know and showed trust for their wisdom to judge the situation.

There have been cases recently in which rumors have been spread rapidly via cell-phone messages, and these can be particularly viral in emergency situations or following a natural disaster. People often believe them because they do not have any alternative sources of information.

Thus, the rumors and the people relaying them play a big part in worsening the damage caused by a disaster or accident.

In such cases, a timely and authoritative information release would go a long way to dismissing the rumor and preventing mass panic or social unrest.

The methods used to relay such information should be many and diverse. Text messages worked well in Zhanjiang, but the Internet, public announcements or even emergency press conferences should also be used as required.

Any tool that aids the rapid communication of useful and authoritative information should be employed.

Experts could also get involved to add weight to the administrative efforts.

(China Daily 08/16/2007 page10)