Mississippi Department of Health
Healthy-Secure-Mississippi

The Consortium for Risk and Crisis Communication, which is comprised of Widmeyer Communications and the Center for Risk Communications, recently worked with the Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) to launch Healthy-Secure-Mississippi, a public awareness campaign to inform Mississippians about being prepared for emergencies and public health threats.

The Consortium first conducted market research to better understand perceptions and beliefs residents and officials have about certain public health threats. With this research, we worked with the MDH to develop the collateral materials, e-reminders and advertisements seen above. Additionally, we employed the following campaign strategies:

•	Conducting outreach to Mississippi broadcast and print outlets
•	New media strategies like the design of electronic banner ads and e-reminders
•	Development of a four page Emergency Preparedness Guide which appeared in seven key newspapers
•	Production of broadcast spots directing Mississippi residents to the MDH Hotline and Web site
•	Design of an informative roadside billboard that was displayed in 49 locations across the state
•	Science-based risk and crisis communication training for MDH spokespersons
•	Organizing a well attended stakeholder briefing that informed groups from public health, healthcare, emergency response and other organizations about the campaign and the importance of their participation.

The Healthy-Secure-Mississippi campaign was a huge success. In fact, a Widmeyer post-campaign poll found that fully 73 percent of Mississippians felt more informed about where to go for information on emergency preparedness and/or public health threats.

The Consortium’s Efforts Concerning Hurricane Katrina
After the onset of Hurricane Katrina, the Consortium volunteered its services and created message maps and targeted media lists for the MDH. Messages addressed the Department’s roles and responsibilities during the crisis and included information on major health threats, including the Vibrio bacterium and mosquitoes.