COVID Emergency Communications: Response, Resilience, and Recovery

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic is the worst disaster that government has experienced in a century. Not only did it upendthe lives of Pierce County’s 900,000 residents, but COVID made it much more difficult for 3,000 County employeesto deliver crucial services. The Pierce County Communications team faced monumental challenges in a life-or-deathsituation. The team’s top priority was to deliver lifesaving messaging about how to stay safe, where to get testedand vaccinated for COVID, and how to find support and resources. We also needed to address public fears, ensuretransparency, and provide timely information in a rapidly changing environment. The County received $158 millionin federal CARES Act funds that needed to be spent by year’s end. This meant an aggressive, public relationscampaign informing the public about mortgage and housing assistance, small business loans, free lunch programs,among many other programs. Using existing channels and creating new ones on the fly, County communicatorscreated timely, accurate and vital information. We are proud to have accomplished all of this while workingremotely in a dynamic, uncertain environment.