The Role of Governors during a Crisis
When a crisis happens, a governor‘s foremost duty is to be a centre of calm in a sea of turbulence. Disaster preparedness experts constantly warn about fear and panic, and they have a good reason to fixate on these two. They understand that panic can and usually does cause more damage than the crisis itself. The first role of the governor is to assure the people that their government is in place and ready to assist them. He or she is saddled with the duty of being a comforter-in-chief in his or her state. The governor in a crisis is a voice of calm, assurance, strength, and compassion.
Secondly, the governor immediately becomes the state’s primary news provider. The internet has made communication easy on one hand while complicating it on the other. As multiple events have shown, the internet is awash with actual fake news, which is dangerous during a crisis. Therefore, the governor is responsible for informing the people in the state. He or she has to be truthful so that the people can trust him while being optimistic enough to shore up morale. The governor should saturate the population with so much accurate information that misinformation finds no place to hide. In a crisis, it is the governor’s duty to keep his or her citizens informed.
Just as importantly, a governor is a manager during a crisis. This is one of the reasons why the law gives a governor extensive executive powers. It recognizes the fact that in a crisis, a state needs a steady, centralized hand. Therefore, it is the governor’s duty to, first and foremost, get a hold of the situation and establish a working structure. He or she also has the responsibility to marshalling the human and material resources the state will need. The governor can purchase items, hire workers, and even ask for volunteers. He or she can also call on help from the National Guard and the federal government. Whichever means he or she uses, the people depend on their governor for resources during a crisis.
The governor is also responsible for coordination between the various agencies. The law, especially the Public Health Acts dealing with a crisis, envision a situation where federal and local entities work together. The governor is the state’s representative in the matrix, and he or she acts as the primary coordinator between all other bodies and the state’s agencies and resources. For example, the current pandemic has seen governors work closely with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. He or she should represent the interests of the state and its citizens in the best way possible.
Finally, the governor acts as the state’s conscience during a time of crisis. He or she works to dispel any divisions that might have existed so that he can bring the people together. A moral and ethical governor acts as the voice of the whole state and not just the ones who voted for him or her. At that moment, the governor will probably be the state’s face to the world. He or she needs to show the best of his or her state. The people look up to their leader for things they can emulate, and he or she should not fail them. The governor’s ultimate duty in a crisis is to unify the people and give them purpose.
Advantages and Disadvantages
A governor benefits politically and socially if he or she does his or her duty. Failure to handle a crisis properly often results in political ruin. Being in charge is both an advantage and a disadvantage depending on how one handles a crisis.