Staff Crisis Communication Readiness Survey

Thanks for taking a few minutes to help us assess how ready we really are to communicate clearly if a crisis hits. Your honest answers — not what you think we want to hear — will shape training and channel fixes. About 5-6 minutes.

Please rate your agreement with each statement about crisis communication protocols.

Do you know who is authorized to speak to media, customers, or the public on behalf of the organization during a crisis?

• Yes, I know exactly who
• I have a general idea
• No, I don't know
• Not applicable to my role

How reliable is (Replace with your primary emergency notification system, e.g., mass text alert system) at reaching you during a crisis? (Template note: replace with your organization's actual system name before launching.)

Which communication channels have actually reached you, or would you trust to reach you, during a real crisis? Select all that apply.

• Email
• SMS/text alert
• Company intranet or portal
• Phone tree / direct call
• Social media
• Instant messaging app (e.g., Slack, Teams)
• Physical signage or in-person briefing

Rank these channels in the order you would want to receive crisis information, from most preferred to least.

1. Email
2. SMS/text alert
3. Phone call
4. Instant messaging app
5. Company intranet
6. In-person briefing

How confident are you that leadership would communicate clearly, promptly, and honestly with staff during an actual crisis?

How long ago did you last participate in a crisis communication drill, tabletop exercise, or simulation?

• Within the last 3 months
• 4-6 months ago
• 7-12 months ago
• More than a year ago
• I have never participated in one

Reconstruct the most recent moment the respondent needed crisis-related information at work — whether a real incident or a drill — and walk through exactly what happened: which channel alerted them, whether it actually worked, whether they knew who to contact or who was authorized to speak externally, and where confusion or delay crept in. If they say they've 'never participated' in a drill, probe what they think would happen if a real crisis hit today and what single piece of training would close that gap.

What's the one change that would most improve your confidence in our crisis communication readiness?

That's everything — thank you for your candor. These answers directly inform where we tighten protocols, clarify spokesperson authority, and shore up unreliable channels before a real crisis tests them.

Which department or team are you part of? (Template note: replace this list with your organization's actual departments before launching.)

• (Replace with Department A)
• (Replace with Department B)
• (Replace with Department C)
• Other
• Prefer not to say

How long have you worked at the organization?

• Less than 1 year
• 1-3 years
• 4-9 years
• 10+ years
• Prefer not to say