the role of the public information officer fema the role of the public information officer fema

endstream endobj 495 0 obj <. The Governor is continuing to monitor the situation. 1955 0 obj <>stream * The social media links provided are for reference only. The most popular social networking sites have groups, which offer chat boards for members. Their three-bedroom condo was almost immediately choked in smoke and he could hear screams from below as roaring flames billowed from the balcony outside his front door. Quantify results when evaluating public information efforts. First name. What is in it for them? The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. Develop a picture of who you want to reach with your message by asking: Now that you know what you want to communicate and to whom you will communicate, next you need to develop and implement your campaign. Mayor Holden: By having that access it really helped us to quell the various rumors that were out there and we were able to keep the situation calm. When a newsworthy incident occurs, the media will be there, whether youve invited them or not! Provide information and updates in a timely manner. Select it carefully and choose your background wisely. All social networking sites allow users to find people they know among the members, or look for other members with similar interests or affiliations. DECEMBER 2020 INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER 1 OF 5 FEMA-509-v20170717 . An important part of the PIOs relationship with the media is knowing what they want. what is role of public information officer in fema? What problems are you having in your community? endstream endobj startxref Some tips to contribute to your success when managing information during an emergency are: A Go Kit is a mobile response kit that allows PIOs to function in the event that they are working outside of their normal place of operation. The following was originally posted on CDC Public Health Matters Blog on May 16, 2011, by Ali S. Khan. 'Ss S>*2MbX^f Narrator: In addition to a preparedness television show and Mayor Mouse, Red Stick Ready also communicates preparedness information through a Web site, the use of social media, and events like Red Stick Ready Day. Tammy Kikuchi: Having the Joint Information Center for this event was critical. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Public Information Officer (PIO) training program is designed to provide PIOs with the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities to support proper decision-making by delivering the right message, to the right people, at the right time. Television is the main source of news for Americans. EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. Construct and deliver an appropriate crisis and emergency risk message. Keep the subject and verb close together. The role of the public information officer A. is strictly dictated by the National Qualification System position task book. Responds to the media while respecting restrictions on the release of sensitive information. I would urge you to be careful whenever you travel, Smith said. Narrator: Red Stick Ready targets every segment of the community. User: The Public Information Officer: A. Interfaces with the public and media and/or with other agencies regarding incident-related information requirements. He and his wife threw open their window and helped their kids drop to waiting neighbors gathered below. Verdi White: The two functions and people that I need to have with me when Im out here doing anything is I need to have a finance person and I need to have the Joint Information Center. Did the message reach the targeted audience? 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 NIMS Overview Communities across the nation experience a diverse range of threats, hazards, and events. Evaluate the effectiveness of your campaign. The Sonoran Desert will be among the hottest places on the globe for the next 4 months. As demonstrated by the examples, micro-blogging has become an important source of information in preparation of, during, and after crisis situations. We wanted questions answered, we wanted stories to be able to do, and we had one place to go to and that was great. Time will also impact the shelf-life of your campaign. Your goals should be: The following is an example of a SMART goal: The Hurricane Ready campaign will present information about local hurricane hazards and the steps to take to be prepared by securing by April 5 media placement on three television stations, two newspapers, one social network, and a micro-blog, each week in May.. %PDF-1.6 % This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the media and the whole community. Sit on your coat tail to keep your jacket from riding up. Use jargon to communicate with your target audience B. The widespread use of social media means you and your organization need to include social media in your communication strategy. If you need to build an email list, consider including a place for people to sign up on your Web site. 0 Next you need to identifyhowyou will communicate. Themes weaved throughout the series include the 95/5 concept and an emphasis on whole community strategic communication planning. Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, and the CDC Coronavirus page for the latest updates on the pandemic response. In other words, express parallel ideas in parallel grammatical forms. PIOs need to have a complete understanding of the community's demographics in order to: A. Describe the role and function of the PIO. Determine information to be communicated to the public. In their zeal to get the story reporters may not always recognize the potential for danger to themselves. One PIO talking by phone to an on-scene PIO to confirm the number of responders at the scene prior to an initial news release. For highly visible or controversial matters, it might be best to have a leader in the organization speak. NIMS describes the use of the Joint Information System (JIS) to complete the critical tasks of information sharing and coordination. Tell the media representatives: Follow-through goes a long way to establishing good relations with the news media. Although firefighters were able to knock down the blaze before it reached the parents bedroom, the smoke-blackened walls dramatically underscored how lucky they were to escape with their lives. Campaigns are usually multifaceted, combining events and various media to get the message out. hbbd```b``+@$S4X$ vA$[0,v DI%09D`vH2& H/ `{I 30 0 `B Knowing how to effectively speak to media representatives using both verbal and nonverbal communication. When an emergency happens, ICS is implemented. For each of these toolstelevision, newspaper, radio, news briefings, and evolving mediayou need written products. Coming back after the fire to retrieve them, their ghostly shadows left indelible evidence of the inferno that swept through their home. Selects the right tools for the messages. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?. 1928 0 obj <> endobj Disclosing information to the public in ways that are easy to find and use. Are there warnings or other critical messages to be communicated to the public? endstream endobj startxref B. Some tips for speaking publicly and improving your responses (or assisting and preparing a speaker) are: When distributing written products or speaking to the media, you will often need to work with a person to get your information out. Emergency Management Institute Check with them to see if the location selected for a media area will allow them to accomplish this connection. FEMA IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness Course Summary Conducting public awareness campaigns; Gathering key information/details of the event; Prioritizing and issuing notices, alerts, and warnings; Taking action to maintain control of rumors; Coordinating inquiries from the public, the media, and elected officials; Coordinating tours or other interviews with agency reps and the media Include information on evolving media contacts, instructions, and resources. The median salary for a public information officer is near 60,000 a year in most states and between 80,000 and 90,000 a year in higher cost of living states. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the whole community regarding the importance of being prepared for an incident. The PIOs primary responsibility to organizational leadership as an advisor is to: A. Message mapping B. Dissemination C. Tracking and documentation D. Media analysis. Describe how to develop and execute a public awareness campaign. A tornado strikes in the Midwest. They also tell people how they can prepare for a disaster, and protect themselves when disaster strikes. Even a few minutes of practice can make a big difference. As a PIO, your target audiences include . Public Information and Warning . (A media pool refers to a group of news-gathering organizations pooling their resources in the collection of news.) Provide public information, emergency public information, and community education to your internal and external target audiences. 140-character stand-alone micro-blog statements. If you anticipate what they will want, you will have a better chance to manage the scene and help guide the story. This demonstrates how social media are now an integral part of our lives and a valuable part of the PIOs toolkit. This feature can facilitate abuse of the system. A strategy to effectively use all the tools (traditional media and evolving media) together and determine the best mix of tools for what you want to communicate. ), John enjoys boating, swimming, and to fish. Do not be afraid to put bad news first if that is the message. Avoid visuals C. Chunk content to make it more scannable D. Maximize search results by using acronyms, 6. When considering whether a goal is attainable, ask yourself: Do I have the skills and resourcesor can I get themto achieve this goal? Lets review the different types of communication tools in more detail, starting with print media. Join to apply for the Public Information Officer - 48752 role at University of California, Merced. Chris Mrela wrote a dynamite report on this a couple of years ago. They can be timelesslike encouraging children to be active. Consider your resources and your role in ICS. FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications. Lieutenant Doug McCleve: One of the reasons why we felt it was so important to put together a Joint Information in the first, Center in the first place is because we knew that there would be all aspects of State government involved in this process from providing basic food and clothing and shelter for these people who have had nothing for up to a week. FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications. They can be seasonallike hurricane preparedness week. PIOs must possess good oral communication skills because they will need to present critical information and prepare other people to speak: More information on speaking and preparing speakers is presented in Lesson 3. Tammy Kikuchi: The response was overwhelming. Creates a positive impression of your organization. Angie Welling: Reporters understand change really well because our days are always changing, but just have that plan in place, know basically what you want to do, whos going to staff it, what will be available, what hours you will be available for the media. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. It was four, five, and six teams from every news, particularly the TV stations sending out that many cameras with that many reporters from each station and it just was incredible, not to mention the newspapers, the radio stations, the smaller papers in the area plus national media. IS 29.A Public Information Officer Exam Questions | FEMACourses (Unit 1), Describe the role and functions of the PIO. Test the message on a safe audience B. (Unit 4), Given a scenario, apply the 8-Step Model to a public awareness campaign. Public information entails the processes and systems that enable effective communications with various target audiences. Use the media area for all media releases and conferences. Emergency Manager jobs 33,535 open jobs Once again, we see a fire threatening our citizens and their homes. They will go other places to get other information (local citizen reactions, sidebar stories, etc.). Narrator: Red Stick Ready demonstrates how you can develop a strategy that prepares your community for a disaster and effectively provides critical information when an incident happens. Do you follow through? The participant will benefit from participating in entry-level incident command system training prior to taking this course. . The activities a PIO chooses in non-emergency times (95%) has a significant impact on how successful he or she will be in the 5% spent in emergency response and recovery. Select the correct definition Emergency Public Information A. Coordinates the release of accurate, coordinated, timely, and accessible public information to affected audiences, including the government, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector B. It also helps identify the target audience for a particular public awareness campaign. All of the above, 23. An important part of your role as a PIO is to communicate with your community before something happens. Resource Typing Definition for Response . endstream endobj 1929 0 obj <. Making sure community members understand the events that unfold during severe weather, pandemics, and non-emergency scenarios . Walter Monsour: So, the message was managed extremely well. (Unit 2), Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. Tools to enhance the flow of public information are housed. nEAH {27(L( o 5UR\sR%or=uG5($#MJ (2*8T-\< Influence an audience to modify behavior C. Sell government or nonprofit products and programs D. Enhance social media, 11. Treat all media fairlydo not play favorites with reporters. This fundamental principle is the basis for public information in emergency management in this country. They can be used for personal networking, professional networking, and sharing public information. As a PIO, you communicate with your target audiences to keep them informed about activities, events, and resources. Speculation C. Summarizing D. Bridging, 12. The following are excerpts from some successful blogs by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Ventura City Manager in Ventura, CA, and the Arizona Department of Health Services. Responsibilities of the Components of the ICS Organization. In order to keep a consistent two-way flow of information with the media representatives at the scene, it is important to make it relatively easy to communicate with them face to face. Contact commercial vendors to identify contacts and the process for news releases. Additionally, it can provide those in executive-level roles with the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. These tools allow you to use key word searches and provide you with updates in your email or through an RSS feed or through the tools Web site. Public Information Officer Jobs and Salary Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. Although its meaning has changed slightly over the years, it refers to a human corpse mysteriously reanimated to serve the undead. (What will motivate them?). Lets look at some general descriptions of social media available: Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. In Lesson 2 you learned about the many different media options you have, including: Select the right medium or right mix of media for a strategy to get your message to your target audience. (Unit 3), List the steps of the 8-Step Model for Strategic Communications. Thats what happened to Jose Martinez yesterday morning as he woke early to get his 9-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son off to school on time. Primary audience: FEMA IS-29.A is designed for the new or less experienced state, local, tribal and territorial PIOs or those who have this role as a secondary function. Under the ICS, the PIO works for: A. Emergency management knowledge including an understanding of NIMS, ICS, the JIS, and the JIC. (For example: The suspicious package was the size of a laptop computer. Illustrate the multiple roles of the Public Information Officer and the media in planning for and responding to an emergency. Include email addresses and Internet sites for the media contact. Information developed and disseminated in anticipation of, during, or after an emergency to provide specific life- and health-saving information C. Issuing a news release on a seatbelt law (public information); announcing a road closure due to a multiple-car accident (emergency public information) D. Information collected, assembled or maintained by an organization in connection with the transaction of official business and available for dissemination to the public, 2. C. result in the need to conduct follow-up interviews. D. enhance agency credibility. A. Below are some tips for writing in a clear, concise, and organized manner: Although active voice is preferred and is more interesting, passive voice may be appropriate when the doer is unknown or you want to focus on the receiver of the action. Do you know what to do to protect yourself and your family? This course introduces PIOs with no, or limited, experience to the basic skills and tools needed to communicate effectively with the public. Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, and the CDC Coronavirus page for the latest updates on the pandemic response. Each time this test is loaded, you will receive a unique set of questions and answers. That you will get them information and be back to brief themand then do so. It is important to build relationships with your media contacts. Work to keep them out of danger as you would any member of the public. If there is a reason that the media cannot be allowed access to the scene, consider using a media pool to restrict access while allowing them to get the images and interviews they desire. Show emotion as appropriate, but dont use big gestures. Managing public information is another fundamental element of emergency management. for the incident. (Unit 3), Recall preparation techniques that contribute to a successful media interview. Weegy: The role of the pubic information officer is to gather facts and disseminate it to the media. Use natural gestures, but dont cross your arms, raise your eyebrows, shrug your shoulders, sway, or bounce. C. Identify all the news media covering the area. You cant manage who shows up but you can and should manage contact with the site. C. will transfer to a planning position if no media covers an incident. Uses information from other members of the local unit to develop accurate, accessible, and complete information on an 3 Step Guide for Assistance. Another way to get information to the media or public is by directly sharing with multiple members of the media through a news conference or briefing. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 %PDF-1.6 % Please note that the is program now requires a fema sid to be used instead of your ssn. B. describes a writing technique applied to social media content. But its not just preparedness information that the mayor and his team also have a plan for, they also have focused on how to provide critical and accurate information during an emergency by including every emergency response agency in the Emergency Operations Center the EOC and embedding the media in the communication process. It provides a framework for people from multiple agencies to work well together B. As the PIO, you must know your organizations role in an emergency and have emergency management knowledge, including: This lesson introduced you to your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). Develop relationships with other organizations PIOs B. Transparency in government promotes efficiency and effectiveness and allows the people in your community to understand and participate in your processes. This training focuses on both parts of the equation. 3 Step Guide for Assistance, Federal Emergency Management Agency | Emergency Management Institute, Notice to Applicants for EMI or NFA Courses, How to apply for a FEMA Independent Study course (Online Course), How to apply for a course held in EMI (On-Campus Course), Non-Resident Courses (EMI Courses Conducted by States), National Standard Exercise Curriculum (NSEC), Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP), Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP), National Incident Management System (NIMS), Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC), Disaster Field Training Operations (DFTO), Schools Multihazard and Mass Casualty Planning, Virtual Table Top Exercise (VTTX) (Sites participate from home via VTC), Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, Exercise Simulation System Document (ESSD), Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, Please review the IS FAQ's for more information, IS-29 Public Information Officer Awareness, E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer, Master Public Information Officer Program, Special collection: Emergency Management Institute student papers, E/K0389 - Master Public Information Officer Implementing Communications Strategies for Whole Community Leadership, E/K0393 Master Public Information Officer Applying Advanced Concepts in Public Information and Communications, E0394 Master Public Information Officer Mastering Public Advocacy Plans to Create an Effective Community of Stakeholders. And thats not all. Determines what the public needs to know. Doug Miser. Joanne H. Moreau: The media is embedded in our Emergency Operations Center. To help you in monitoring conversations on social media sites, you may want to use a social media monitoring tool or social media dashboard. Ability to hold feature stories and run them when space is available or on specific dates or times of year, Audio (sound clips or telephone interviews), Prerecorded segments lack the break-in option for providing emergency information, Exaggerated nature of local television news. Well, were here to answer that question for you, and hopefully share a few tips about preparing forrealemergencies too! Joanne H. Moreau: We are able to work with all agencies and give a real solid unified message. The course culminates with a practical exercise designed to plan, develop, integrate, and disseminate public information for an emergency, incident, or disaster as part of a Joint Information Center. wA{)K+Xk80538L``V[mvWS|?9U7 Once your campaign is implemented, the last step is to determine its success. Your media list should be current, complete, and tailored to your organization. Emergency management guidance for public- and private-sector organizations C. A database of Federal-level emergency incidents D. Another name for the National Response Framework, 21. * The social media links provided are for reference only. Serves as a press secretary for the Agency Executive or Senior Official during the incident. In 2008, the average per-person hospital treatment cost for heat related illnesses in Arizona was about $7,500, leading to a whopping $11M in treatment costs. Salary Statistics for Public Information Officers. Public Information Officer (PIO) - Emergency Management Institute Email. If you intend to become a Public Information Officer use these FEMA IS 29.A answers to turn a 7 hour course into one that takes 5 minutes. View IS-29.a - Public Information Officer Awareness | FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI).pdf from CIS 20 at SUNY Empire State College. There are also professional social networking sites with sections for jobs. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. Be accessible and return calls and emails promptly. Communicates with internal and external stakeholders. How or what can your community learn from these events? *F ;/7Bw1p i~$^y' _r] Remember to treat amateur journalists the same as you would any other journalistwith courtesy and respect. Practice talking in 5-second to 8-second sound bites. 50% C. 25% D. 5%, 9. Timely updates and corrections to information in evolving incidents. (Correct), The report was written by the officer. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position.