Industrial Incident: NOVEMBER 2019
ISSUE
On November 27, 2019 a major event at an industrial facility in Port Neches, Texas resulted in three injuries, a community wide evacuation, and extensive and ongoing emergency response efforts.
APPROACH
Having already been integrated into the company’s crisis management and crisis communications planning, HDA personnel immediately responded to the scene, spending the better part of the next three months supporting strategic communications efforts in the joint emergency operations center. HDA assisted the company with internal and external communications as well as state and federal agency relations and outreach to local elected officials. HDA also participated alongside the company in the subsequent investigation, community insurance claims process, and litigation support.
RESULTS
Response from and support in the nearby community was favorable, particularly in response to the company’s care and consideration for community members directly impacted by the event. Efforts to build and maintain relationships among several key audiences paid dividends as the company was able to withstand the event and emerge stronger in the long run. Media coverage was fair and balanced for the duration of the coverage.