or as obvious as this action may be, it is one of the first things frequently forgotten in a disaster situation. For this reason, it is important that you know in advance what your command’s public affairs objectives are in the face of bad news. OBJECTIVES The  following  is  a  list  of  specific  public  affairs objectives when dealing with an adverse news situation: l Retain public confidence in the Navy. When something  goes  wrong  in  the  Navy,  the  com- petence of naval personnel or the value of naval equipment may be called into question. It is your job to minimize doubts by telling the truth, give full and accurate information and report what corrective actions, if any, are being taken. You may be able to neutralize an adverse story with this strategy, and increased public confidence may result if you do your job well. l  Preserve good media and community rela- tions. Treat  media  representatives  as  you  would like to be treated: honestly and fairly. Release all information that can be released. If you cover up certain facts related to an adverse news stay, you can be sure the ill will that arises when the cover- up  is  discovered  will  follow  you.  Frankness  and honesty are always respected. The results may be seen  in  the  unbiased  reporting  of  adverse  news stories. .   Protect and promote the welfare of military personnel and their families.  While you have an obligation  to  respond  to  the  public’s  right  to know,  you  must  also  remember  that  naval personnel  and  their  families  have  a  right  to privacy that must be respected. This becomes most apparent when you deal with fatalities and notification of next of kin. In addition to these objectives, the public affairs office   has   certain   immediate   and   continuing responsibilities in a disaster situation. They are listed as follows: . To safeguard classified information and material .  To  provide  the  news  media  with  maximum possible  access  to  the  accident  scene  and  a continuous  flow  of  information  regarding  the disaster . To release the names current policy permits of casualties as soon as 2-9 PUBLIC AFFAIRS PLANS To best meet the daily commitments and fulfill the public affairs responsibilities in a disaster situation, you must prepare two disaster plans. The  command plan is issued  by  the  command  in  the  form  of  an  official directive or appended to any master disaster plan as a public affairs annex. It promulgates broad information policies  and  designates  overall  responsibilities  to  staff departments or individual staff billets relative to the handling of public affairs in a disaster. In addition, write an  office  plan  outlining  the detailed actions to be taken by the PAO and his staff to fulfill  their  designated  responsibilities. Command Plan The command plan shown in figure 2-3 provides a solid base for the public affairs staff in a disaster. By being  promulgated  as  a  directive,  the  plan  is  officially sanctioned by the officer in command. It assures every- body's  cooperation  in  the  command  and  specifically  out- lines the command’s objectives and the responsibilities of the public affairs staff and other departments in the command. In the absence of the PAO, it also serves as a general guide to the officer appointed to take his place. The  command  plan  shown  might  contain  other  details according to the specific requirements of the individual command. In the case of a ship, for instance, specific re- sponsibilities  might  be  delegated  to  the  gunnery  officer, nuclear weapons officer, engineering officer, and so forth. Naval  bases  and  installations  may  be  engaged  in specialized activities, such as the testing of new equip- ment, training of fleet personnel or support of fleet units. In each case, alter the command plan to encompass the disaster contingencies anticipated as a result of the special- ized activities of the individual commands. Another ex- ample of a disaster public affairs plan (called an adverse incident plan) appears in Appendix IV of this manual. Office Plan For  a  public  affairs  staff  to  meet  and  fulfill  its responsibilities in a disaster situation successfully, you must prepare an office plan that outlines the specific actions for the PAO and his staff to take. To this plan, the specialized information, checkoff lists, telephone lists and the like are to be appended, which will help the public  affairs  staff  respond  quickly  and  efficiently should a disaster strike. The office plan can be less formal than the command plan.   It   might   be   promulgated   as   an   interoffice memorandum, such as the one shown in figure 2-4.