1. If you're accused of causing environmental harm, will the community be supportive of you, or a vocal adversary? 2. Have you identified environmental and community activists? Community Leaders? Citizens groups? Advocates? Community relations, like advertising, is sometimes difficult to assign a dollar value to, and is easily put off for another day. That is, until negative relations with the community threatens to impact your organizations reputation and/or operations. Poor relationships with the community can result in costly damage to your organization's reputation, negative press, denial of permits, cause costly project delays, and worst of all, class action, or toxic tort lawsuits. Whether the community is "up-in-arms," or a simmering pot waiting to explode, it is critical that you communicate with the many audiences in your community, and do it quickly. Being responsive is your best defense, but it's only an advantage if you get out early enough. You also need to be well versed in "risk communications" techniques to successfully carry messages to the community.
展开▼
