Dixie Electric Receives Recognition for Tornado Communication Efforts
In the aftermath of four tornadoes in April 2020 and during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dixie Electric Power Association spent a couple of weeks restoring electric power to members and, at the same time, communicating with them on the restoration efforts. This occurred while social distancing and stay-at-home orders were in place.
Dixie Electric has been recognized for its effort to communicate effectively to members in the aftermath of the four tornadoes that struck over an 11-day period. The following list of awards was presented to the cooperative for its crisis communication efforts as well as the timeline that appeared in the Today in Mississippi magazine, recounting the ongoing tornado impacts and restoration process.
- In the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Spotlight on Excellence awards, Dixie Electric earned a Gold Award in the Best Total Communication Program category for Crisis Response: 4 tornadoes; and 1 pandemic.
- In the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Pine Belt Chapter Spark Awards program, Dixie Electric’s communication team earned a Certificate of Achievement for Four Tornadoes Strike – Timeline Storytelling.
- In the Public Relations Association of Mississippi state awards program, PRisms, the cooperative also won a Certificate of Merit for Crisis Communication: 4 tornadoes; 1 pandemic.
- Lastly, in the Public Relations Association of Mississippi state awards program, Dixie Electric earned an Award of Excellence in the PRisms for Four Tornadoes Strike – Timeline Storytelling.