Local Level Stakeholder Coordination and Communications to Support Oil Spill Preparedness and Response

Abstract

ABSTRACT Effective response to oil spills can be challenging, especially when multiple levels of government are involved. When an oil spill threatens the coast, local officials and communities are concerned about response strategies and potential impacts, which could affect their area. Local government authorities are responsible for addressing concerns of elected officials and other stakeholders at the community level. In the US and UK, a National Response System (NRS) provides oil spill coordination at the national level down to state level. The NRS can be strengthened by improving the capacity to effectively engage at the local level during preparedness. New opportunities to coordinate could improve response management going forward, by leveraging the relationships developed in emergency preparedness among local government, elected officials, and communities. Relationships and dialogue established during preparedness also support crisis communications with the public at large during response through traditional media, the Internet and social media. Stakeholder engagement is process which can benefit the response organization and those affected by pollution incidents and other emergencies, e.g., storms. Stakeholder engagement and risk communication methodologies are ways to help cultivate realistic expectations and develop consensus about response options, before, during, and after an incident. Coordination and collaboration between the Incident Management Team (IMT) and affected communities can lead to shared objectives and improved information exchange. This is accomplished through traditional media and direct engagement to address emerging risk perceptions, questions, and concerns, especially about issues that spark social conflict, such as dispersant use in the US. Dialogue is necessary to learn about stakeholder and community risk perceptions associated with an incident, to assess the situation in relation to those perceptions, and then develop appropriate responses to their questions, concerns and perceptions. This paper explores ways to enhance existing NRS processes to improve interactions and communications at the local level during preparedness, and the response and post response phases of an oil spill.