Manatee County Communications invite other professionals to participate in this interactive workshop that explores how messaging from emergency management has been shaped and executed by our behind-the-scenes ESF-14 team through a consistent, visually cohesive social media presence using graphics, icons and color. This session will include how we were able to turn media criticism during Tropical Storm Debby into an opportunity to build community trust and engagement during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Attendees will also gain insight from real-world examples of high-impact social media posts—both ours and select anonymized content from other counties—that sparked strong public reactions or taught us critical lessons. Discussion will include the turning point during Milton when we were finally authorized to reopen comments. Whether you’re navigating crisis communications or aiming to refine your agency’s voice, this workshop will offer valuable takeaways in transparency, responsiveness and visual storytelling during messy storms.

Organized by Steven Hartsook