National Guard Plane Crash at Hotel Site - Evansville, Indiana » Media Relations

Within 20 minutes of the crash, calls began coming into the EOC from national radio and television networks, large-market metropolitan television stations, wire services, and newspapers requesting information about the incident. At the scene, television camera crews from local television stations, newspaper reporters and photographers, and local wire service correspondents were vying to capture their respective angles on the story.

Perimeter security at the scene minimized media interference with emergency operations. Nonetheless, the media’s need-to-know had to be satisfied. Moreover, it became apparent, with the onslaught of bystanders and sightseers flocking to the crash site, that the media could be helpful in informing the public not to come to the scene.

At 11:45 a.m., the Fire Chief, Police Chief, County Sheriff, and a representative of the Indiana State Police held an initial news briefing at the incident scene. Each official provided a brief overview of the current status of their response, including the initial casualty figures, progress of fire suppression efforts, and information about traffic control around the incident scene.

A formal press briefing center was set-up in the Ramada Inn located across the street from the incident site at about 12:15 p.m. A second press briefing was held at 1:00 p.m. to update the media and attempt to control rumors about the number of dead and injured. Representatives from the Evansville Police and Fire Departments, Indiana State Police, Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office, county coroner’s office, State Emergency Management Agency, Alexander Ambulance Service (the local EMS contractor), and the local Emergency Management Agency were present at the news conference. Later news conferences were attended by representatives of the Kentucky Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Safety Investigation Board investigating the crash.

A total of eight press briefings were held in the three days following the crash, including five on the first day. During the briefings on the afternoon of the day of the crash, information was provided through the media to direct people to a community center set up to handle public inquiries about the status of family members and to provide relief assistance and counseling to families of crash victims.

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