CO Resort Communities - Drought Impacts

Home Browse Search

web, and web pages and webcams were effective in providing information to potential tourists and visitors. The most important aspect of a community crisis management plan is to eliminate panic that frequently results because of disaster events. The communities with plans did say that these plans reduced or eliminated "panic" in their communities during summer 2002. However, the communities without plans mentioned that there was "panic" in how the community responded during the same summer. Noting this contrast in the reflections of the communities is critical. 2. Improve Coordination and Communication. Colorado resort communities were unanimous in suggesting that improved coordination and communication is a critical recommendation for dealing with drought events. One community expressed it as "communication is the key!" This recommendation applies to improved coordination and. communication between officials at the local level, as well as. between the local officials and state or federal officials. Improved coordination and communication is an important component of a community crisis management plans as well. In the case of Colorado, increased coordination and communication between the resort communities and the ski resorts did take place during 2002. Some communities also discussed how important it was for the state to communicate with the communities as part of its Drought Task Force activities. The Colorado Office of Tourism had representation on the Drought Task Force, and also worked hard during the drought to make sure that the various resort communities and individual. ski resorts were informed. The Office and several of the resort communities relied heavily on a -mails and the web to make sure information was communicated between various officials, agencies, and the public. Improving the vertical connection between state and local officials is a critical component of this recommendation. Some additional tools are available to improve coordination and communication. For example, in one case, the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension was involved in assisting with the coordination. and communication. The extension services of land grant universities across the country are in a unique position to provide valuable interactions between officials, as well as technological transfer between the universities and rural regions of each state. Improved communication and coordination includes the media as well. All participants in the study expressed the value of the media and the importance of close coordination and communication with the local, state, and national media. An element of this recommendation is for resort communities to hold workshops with the media to help explain the importance of tourism and recreation for the local economies to the media, as well as develop better collaboration between the officials and the media during drought, or other natural hazard, events. 3. Market the Positive During a Drought Event.