During the 2016 NADO Annual Training Conference, Nicole Griensewic Mickelson shared a presentation about working with local media to share critical messages.

1. Managing Media Relations: After Disaster Strikes

2. Madelia

3. On February 3, 2016, at 2:29 AM, an
explosion occurred in the 10 block ofWest
Main Street in Madelia, MN. One of the
property owners, living in an upstairs
apartment in a building near the blast,
reported being thrown out of his bed
from the initial explosion.

4. Madelia Police Department

5. US HWY 169 Flood Mitigation Project
The Free Press
GIPHY.com

6. 8 Fire Departments
100 Firefighters
35-40 Impacted Workers
8 Private Sector Businesses Destroyed
106 combined years of service
$3,000,000 in combined sales volume
$400,000 - $1,300,000 lost in wages & benefits

7. THE CALL FOR HELP

8. WCCO
Press Conference Featuring
Minnesota’s Governor and Community Leaders

9. 7 Television Interviews – State and Local
6 Radio Interviews

10. Designed and distributed weekly updates
to area partners and media
(171 recipients per week)

11. Key Takeaways
Consistency in messaging
Identify your spokesperson
Plan a transition for roles
Provide the same information to all media outlets
Remember:You control the story – not the media

12. Coordinated Visits of State Officials to Madelia

13. WCCO
U.S. Senator Klobuchar Visits Madelia

14. Held a panel discussion and brought
area leaders to the room

15. Nicole Griensewic Mickelson,
Executive Director
nicole@rndc.org