Which approach does the Oklahoma City Fire Department prioritize for communication during emergencies?

The Oklahoma City Fire Department emphasizes communication with media and the community during emergencies to ensure that accurate information is disseminated promptly. This approach helps to manage public perception, provide critical updates, and foster transparency. Effective communication with the media can amplify the department's messages, ensuring that the public receives timely and reliable information about emergency situations. This strategy not only informs the community of safety measures and actions being taken but also helps to mitigate panic and misinformation.

In contrast, focusing solely on internal communication would limit the dissemination of information necessary for community safety. Prioritizing communication exclusively with government agencies may also lead to a disconnect with the public, where residents are left uninformed. General announcements without specific guidelines would likely result in confusion and a lack of clarity. By establishing clear guidelines for communication, the department maintains an organized and effective response to the needs of both the community and the media during emergencies.