Besides mass media such as TV and radio, what other methods, such as auto-dialing and e-mail, could the Water Bureau have used to communicate their message to affected customers?
The task of getting an important message to every person in a large area in a short period of time is a difficult one. There is no one method that works for everyone. The Portland Water Bureau is fortunate to have had the help and assistance of local media outlets, health agencies and even Water Bureau customers to distribute this message. The size and scope of disseminating the notice to more than 104,000 customers made direct calling or door-to-door notification– methods used in previous, smaller localized events in Portland– inefficient and unrealistic. In addition to distributing the notice to all local media outlets, the City directly contacted hospitals, clinics and major institutions in the affected areas. The Water Bureau also coordinated with the Multnomah County Health Department to contact schools, nursing homes and restaurants in the affected area. As part of the notice, the Water Bureau encouraged customers to pass the information on to their neighbors, friends and famil
