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SPARC
SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE
RESOURCE CENTER
CRISIS PLAN
November 1993
Nicole Lindsey
CRISIS SCENARIO
Monday, November 29
An estranged husband, Jack R. Battle, 42, followed a volunteer from the Gainesville
administrative offices of SPARC to the emergency shelter. The shelter is at an
undisclosed location.
Battle left the shelter location. He returned to the shelter at approximately 7 p.m.
and broke a window to enter the shelter. He was looking for his wife, Anne Battle,
36, who was staying at the shelter after a violent confrontation with her husband.
Battle found his wife alone in a living room and shot her in the head with the
handgun he was carrying. The shelter official on duty called 911, the emergency
medical services, after she observed Battle fleeing the facility. A description of
Battle's vehicle was provided to the police and an ambulance was requested for
Anne Battle. The shelter official was unable to detain Battle.
The shelter had no other residents at the time. The shelter official did not know
Battle was inside the shelter facility until Anne Battle began screaming and the shot
was heard.
Sheriff's deputies stopped Battle in his car on Newberry Road shortly after they
received the call.
Anne Battle was taken to an unnamed hospital where she is in critical condition.
The doctors are unsure of her prognosis at this point.
Officials learned after apprehending Battle that he had been observing the
movements of the administrative offices' employees. He had observed a frequent
visitor to the office. This visitor always carried out what looked like supplies and
mail. After following her frequently, he discovered the location of the shelter.
A press conference has been called and all media have been notified. Pertinent
information regarding the situation will be dispersed to the media with a promise of
updated information as it becomes available. At this time Dr. Nutter will stress and
encourage the media to understand the need to keep the location of the shelter as
secure as possible. The security of the location of the shelter has been breached
and SPARC is trying to keep the damages to a minimum.
NOTIFICATION PLAN
INTERNAL CONTACTS
Dr. Mary Nutter, director 377-5690 office
Judy Johns, administrative assistant 377-5690 office
Linda, shelter supervisor 377-1083 shelter
Hotline 377-TALK
Counseling 378-1762
Support Group 378-1762
Anne Battle's parents Mr. and Mrs. Joe Maiden
home
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(904) 266-3473
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Dr. Mary Nutter spokesperson, media liaison
Judy Johns communication coordinator
Linda maintain shelter, communicate back to Judy any problems or concerns
about shelter security.
All other supervisors and coordinators of programs will maintain their duties and
communicate back to Judy any problems they may be having. Everyone in
organization is instructed to refer any media attention and all questions and
inquiries back to Judy. Judy will communicate to Dr. Nutter the areas needing
attention and information. Dr. Nutter will act as official spokesperson to any
inquiries.
EXTERNAL CONTACTS
EMERGENCY/POLICE
911 general emergency
Emergency Medical Services
Alachua County Sheriffs Office
Gainesville Police Department
Florida Highway Patrol
State Attorney Rod Smith
HOSPITALS (including public relations departments)
North Florida Regional Medical Center 333-4125
Alachua General Hospital 372-4321
Shands Hospital 395-0373 PR
333-4970 PR
375-4321 PR
395-0109 security
COUNSELING SERVICES
Crisis Center of Alachua County
Mental Health Services
Community Resource Outreach Program
Vista Pavilion Crisis Care and Recovery
FUNDING SOURCES
Health and Rehabilitative Services
United Way
MEDIA
The Gainesville Sun
The Independent Alligator
WCJB TV20
WESH TV2
WOGX TV51
WUFT CHANNEL
Christian Life Media Cable Radio 95
GC-101 WYGC
WCAB-FM
WLUS
WWLO
Z93
WJLF
WKTK
WRRX
379-4444
374-5600
371-2347
338-0097
336-2356
378-1343
374-5085
336-4458
377-2020
622-2222
372-0657
392-4311
375-2773
375-1317
375-7050
378-1980
377-5656
378-9300
374-4941
377-0985
376-1230
911
336-2500
911
336-2150
374-3670
371-0051
EXTERNAL CONTACTS (continued)
MEDIA
WTRS 375-4115
WYKS 331-2200
WYOC 372-4487
WRUF 392-6397
WUFT-FM 392-5200
COUNSELING SERVICES/TRAUMA SPECIALISTS
SPARC maintains in-house counselors to deal with domestic violence problems that
occur.
If needed, additional help would be sought from the local crisis center and other
counseling services to help any women and children in need. See the External
Contact list for pertinent phone numbers for these services.
PROVISION FOR UPDATING AND REVISING
Executive director and administrative assistant should update and revise plan in six
month intervals. Update contact lists and phone numbers for personnel and
external contacts.
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Organization could practice crisis scenario and crisis plan by pretending actual crisis
takes place.
Scenario Security of shelter breached, shelter resident injured.
* Activate crisis plan.
* Delegate jobs as listed in duties and responsibilities.
* All auxiliary programs within organization called and instructed to refer all
inquiries and questions to communication coordinator.
* Communication coordinator communicates with spokesperson the needs for
information.
* Spokesperson and communication coordinator decide what to say and when to
say it.
* Press conferences called as needed. It is important to maintain the organization
as source of information.
* Organization helps control rumors.
* Spokesperson is the direct contact with the media and handles all speaking for
the organization.
* One voice.
EVALUATION PROVISION
Evaluation of crisis plan will take place after crisis plan is executed in real or practice
scenarios. Evaluation will determine how well the crisis plan met the needs of the
organization. The purpose of the crisis plan is to simplify the steps taken during a
crisis and provide a modicum of organization in a stressful, disorganized situation.
The crisis plan should make the crisis more manageable and limit the damage done
to the organization and its reputation.
Evaluation should be dispersed by the communication coordinator and the results
should be examined by the executive director, the spokesperson and the
communication coordinator.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR EVALUATION
(to be asked of all employees involved in crisis situation)
1. Did the crisis plan meet the needs of the organization?
2. What were the areas that were overlooked by the crisis plan?
3. Was information readily available for inquiries?
4. Were employees clear on their duties?
5. Did employees understand the assigned duties and responsibilities? Did they
know who was in charge of dispersing information, answering questions and
other specific areas?
6. Did employees feel, at any time, unsure of what was expected of them in the
crisis situation?
7. Did the crisis plan make the crisis more manageable?
8. Were damages to organization reputation or image limited?
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