The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word EXIGENCY
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
E
X
I
G
E
N
C
Y
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "crisis" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case crisis = exigency.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does EXIGENCY mean?
EXIGENCY noun- (chiefly in the plural) The demands or requirements of a situation.
- An urgent situation, one requiring extreme effort or attention.