The Information-Gathering Resource List
Prior to entering a crisis situation, all persons responsible for intelligence gathering
should start identifying information resources. Contact information, availability, and area of
expertise should be recorded. Even sources of lesser credibility can be included in the resource
list if the user can calibrate it in terms of biasand reliability. The most practical real-world
example is the news media. Some media sources are quite accomplished at getting a reporter to
the scene of the disaster and reporting the facts. Others are not and may tend to sensationalize
the facts, just to compete. On occasion though, a less reliable source may have a reporter in the
right place at the right time and may be the best source of information until the others catch up.
A variety of information sources can be tapped by a response team prior to deploying. ...more