From wildfires and floods to cyberattacks and social unrest, public agencies are increasingly tested by high-stakes emergencies that unfold at the speed of social media. In these moments, the effectiveness of your communication plan can make the difference between calm and chaos.This session will walk participants through how to create—and continuously refine—an emergency communications playbook that empowers communicators to act decisively, coordinate seamlessly, and communicate clearly under pressure. Drawing on real-world examples from recent California emergencies, we’ll explore strategies for pre-approving key messages, integrating communications into emergency operations, and establishing trusted channels before disaster strikes.Attendees will leave with actionable tools, including a customizable playbook framework, message templates for common crisis types, and guidance for recovery-phase communication that rebuilds trust after an incident. Whether your agency is coastal, inland, urban or rural, this session will help you strengthen readiness and build confidence for when every second counts.