Abstract: Based on the 3T principle of crisis communication, the framework of local government's new media response capacity is constructed. Through the empirical study of more than 100 public crisis events, it is found that the new media response ability of local governments in public crisis is generally not satisfactory. The attitude of the superior government and the level of the local government have a positive impact on the new media response ability of the local government. Although the crisis type has a significant impact, it is not the essential reason for the difference in response ability. In this regard, we explain this phenomenon based on the behavioral logic in the administrative system of local governments in China, and deeply reflect on the issue of improving the response capacity of local governments to new media crisis.