the role of the public information officer fema

The word zombie comes from Haitian and New Orleans voodoo origins. Grab the attention of your readers so that they will continue reading. Illustrate the multiple roles of the Public Information Officer and the media in planning for and responding to an emergency. A good overview of ICS is provided in the independent study . * The social media links provided are for reference only. What do they already know about the topic? Imagine your living room exploding in flames and your family cut off from the only door down the stairs from your second-floor condominium. 1943 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<9229C3A5CD7F8A409FF242859AD01E9B>]/Index[1928 28]/Info 1927 0 R/Length 89/Prev 779652/Root 1929 0 R/Size 1956/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Test the message on a safe audience B. Public information can help people make the right decision at the right time. Access to the scene for information and images. ICS is used to manage an emergency incident (like a wildland fire, search and rescue, hurricane, etc.) Possess and enhance certain qualities and skills that make an effective PIO. It also helps identify the target audience for a particular public awareness campaign. Private wiki servers require user authentication to edit pages, and sometimes even to read them. Quantify results when evaluating public information efforts. Increase community preparedness is not specific. NIMS Description of the PIOs Responsibilities. Where do they go and how do they get there (e.g., do they spend time on public transportation, do they visit the library, do they go to sporting events, etc.)? One of the advantages of the Incident Command System (ICS) is: A. Conduct research to determine which tool is best to meet your agencys needs. B. an important part of the PIOs job. The fire started near Harvest Junction on the railroad and the fumes from the burning hazardous materials in the cars threaten a number of nearby communities, according to local authorities. C. only required when dictated by the Incident Commander. Understand the National Incident Management System, Incident Command System and their correlation with the emergency response system. You should set a realistic deadline and interim benchmarks, as needed. The Governor is continuing to monitor the situation. Joanne H. Moreau: We are able to work with all agencies and give a real solid unified message. Social Media: Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse. Serves as an advisor to the Incident Commander. 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. (Unit 4), Given a scenario, apply the 8-Step Model to a public awareness campaign. The test questions are scrambled to protect the integrity of the exam. All social networking sites allow users to find people they know among the members, or look for other members with similar interests or affiliations. endstream endobj startxref Did the message reach the targeted audience? Emergency Management Institute 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. They tell the public about services and programs that can affect their lives, like information about staying healthy, fire safety, and changes in community college tuition. Establish one that doesnt hinder operations but affords the media reasonable, legitimate access. The first step in developing a public awareness campaign is to research issues to identify relevant topics for your campaign. Making sure community members understand the events that unfold during severe weather, pandemics, and non-emergency scenarios . Check with them to see if the location selected for a media area will allow them to accomplish this connection. These sites make it easy to establish networks of contacts. The Public Information Officer is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. What is happening in other areas? (For example: The suspicious package was the size of a laptop computer. Demonstrate that you are in the knowB. A tornado strikes in the Midwest. A Public Information Officer (PIO) for a public safety or emergency management agency might expect to spend what portion of his or her time on activities directly related to incident response or recovery? The Student Self Service Portal allows you to print or download Independent Study (IS) Completion Certificates, Student IS Transcripts (for personal or employer use) and Official IS Transcripts (for educational institutions only). The Public Information Officer may also perform a key public information-monitoring role. 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. If you need to build an email list, consider including a place for people to sign up on your Web site. Print medianewspapers and magazinesare the first type of mass media developed. The Governor repeated his request that everyone use caution and heed warning messages on TV and radio, or in their newspapers. Lieutenant Doug McCleve: So what we felt like it would be best to do is provide a one-stop calling center for the news media to be able to access whoever they needed to in this process. . 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.. The successful PIO develops credibility and builds relationships with the media by consistently: More information on media relation skills and managing the media is presented in Lessons 3 and 5. Learn and respect your media contacts deadlines. %%EOF This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. Who is likely to be affected by the hazard or threat? Look at the audience, but dont lock eyes with any one person and dont look into the camera. In this lesson youll learn more about creating public awareness campaigns. The Zombie Survival Guide identifies the cause of zombies as a virus called solanum. Chris Mrela wrote a dynamite report on this a couple of years ago. The PIOs primary responsibility to organizational leadership as an advisor is to: A. Another way to express your key message B. Office: (301) 447-1200 Fax: (301) 447-1201, (800) 621-FEMA / TTY (800) 462-7585 B. describes a writing technique applied to social media content. The following table shows what you need to provide for a television story, the advantages of television, and its limitations. Do you follow through? You have many resources available to ensure that the information reported about an event and your organization is true and accurate. Make it less likely that your release will be cut C. Impress people in the target audience D. Be a barrier to communication, 22. Some examples of evolving media tools are: Web sites can be used alone or in conjunction with traditional media and other evolving media to get your message out. Develop and pre-test materials C. Develop an action planD. The AP Stylebook is used by most of the news media. Year in and year out, nearly 1,400 Arizonans get heat related illnesses so serious that they end up in an emergency department. Social media have changed how quickly information about a disaster is available. As exemplified in the Pew Research study, people are getting information from sources other than traditional media. 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. that can be used to purchase operational resources as needed, Paper forms, in case there is no electronic access (i.e., no Internet access, power outage, etc. Promote government programs and activities B. After taking this course you may want to take other courses to help you continue your professional development. In their haste, each suffered minor injuries, including stitches for their son who cut his ankle on the glass of the first floor window. When preparing written products, it is important that your message is understood. Select the correct definition External Affairs 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. Message mapping B. Dissemination C. Tracking and documentation D. Media analysis. PIOs shouldA. compile a go kit to allow for lengthy deployments to a long-term incident. Participants will benefit from participating in entry-level incident command system training prior to taking this course. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. This awareness-level training is suitable for new PIOs. Determine information to be communicated to the public. For example, change the location or angle of the lectern so cameras dont capture an unwanted view. This lesson focused on how to communicate effectively, which involves: In the next lesson you will learn how to use your tools and skills to communicate information about being prepared to your community. 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. In the Incident Command System (ICS) structure, the Public Information Officer (PIO): A. For more information on the Public Information Officer training program, contact FEMA-Master_PIO_Program@fema.dhs.gov. 524 0 obj <>stream When will you implement your campaign? Zoom lenses, parabolic microphones, and just plain observant reporters may be able to discover sensitive or protected information from your incident command post (e.g., zoom shots of maps, recorded conversations, etc.). Once again, we see a fire threatening our citizens and their homes. 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. Sit on your coat tail to keep your jacket from riding up. At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: Public Information Officersor PIOsare an important link between the organizations they work for and the communities they serve. Consider information about the whole community when identifying topics, including: There is no point in conducting a hurricane preparedness campaign if your area is not subject to hurricanes. Providing good public information helps people make the right decisions at the right time and can instill public confidence in the organization, which is primarily important because: Managing Public Information for All-Hazards Incidents (MPI) is a four-day course that provides students with the practical knowledge of the role of the Public Information Officer, the National Incident Management System, emergency communications methods, risk communication, and interpersonal skills. Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. 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. EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. Describe the role of the PIO in an emergency. It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). Set up interviews and write talking points C. Be an intermediary between leadership and the news media D. Assess situations for public information implications, 14. C. request additional assistance through the National Public Information Support Network. C. is a failed theory and should not be used by modern public information officers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median, annual pay for public relations managers was $91,180 in May 2012, with the top 10 percent earning more than $166,000. Include information on evolving media contacts, instructions, and resources. The Sonoran Desert will be among the hottest places on the globe for the next 4 months. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. 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. Operates with the understanding that any video, audio, or interviews acquired will be shared with the rest of the media. Access to you and the newsmakers or persons in charge. Some examples include traditional media using: An important step when communicating is to continually evaluate and adjust your message by monitoring the media. . A theme that begins in this course and is carried throughout the Public Information Training Series, the 95/5 concept A. is a management concept unique to public information management. . A. Once your campaign is implemented, the last step is to determine its success. Use examples and comparisons to help convey unfamiliar information, to paint a picture, or to help the reader relate to the information. 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. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 During an incident, the media wants: At an incident scene, after you have conferred with the Incident Commander to assess the situation, you can begin to manage the situation by making contact with the media. Technology allows anyone to be a journalist. Images, sound, and information captured by the public can be used by traditional news organizations, or posted to social media sites, and broadcast globally. Members of the media do not want to interfere with these tasks, but if they can get close enough to observe and/or photograph they will be happy. Create clear and easily understood messages. D. should be knowledgeable, assertive, credible, flexible, able to perform under pressure, and accessible., 10. In the next lesson you will learn how to communicate effectively when an incident happens. 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, 15. 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. B. Break your ideas into one subject per sentence. They also tell people how they can prepare for a disaster, and protect themselves when disaster strikes. Poor grammar and misspelled words can confuse the audience and hurt your credibility, but the most important goal is to communicate. Sometimes logging in for a session is recommended, to create a wiki-signature cookie for signing edits automatically. Resource Typing Definition for Response . (Unit 2), Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. An important part of the PIOs relationship with the media is knowing what they want. On the couples dresser were two heat-seared imprints where Martinez had left his wallet and cell phone as he frantically scrambled to ensure his familys leap to safety. 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. %PDF-1.6 % D. is only useful on television infomercials. The role of a PIO can be executed by one person or as a team, depending on the emergency and what resources are available. (What will motivate them?). Even the best writer can make mistakes, particularly when under pressure or in a time crunch. This demonstrates how social media are now an integral part of our lives and a valuable part of the PIOs toolkit. The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. 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. Lets start by reviewing the Incident Command System (ICS) and the PIOs role in ICS. Evolving media (Web sites, email, blogs, social networking sites, etc.). Tornadoes or wildfires in neighboring States may increase your communitys interest in preparedness. How to Remember Better: A Study Tip for Your Next Major Exam, (13 Tips From Repeaters) How to Pass the LET the First Time, [5 Proven Tactics & Bonus] How to pass the Neuro-Psychiatric Exam, 5 Research-Based Techniques to Pass Your Next Major Exam, 2023 Civil Service Exam (CSE) Reviewer: A Resource Page, [Free PDF] 2023 LET Reviewer: The Ultimate Resource Page, [52 Test Answers] FEMA IS-251A: IPAWS for Alerting Administrators, [26 Test Answers] FEMA IS-284A: Using the Substantial Damage Estimator 3.0 Tool, [32 Test Answers] FEMA IS-1120: Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs), [23 Test Answers] FEMA IS-101C: Preparing for Federal Disaster Operations: FEMA. Contact commercial vendors to identify contacts and the process for news releases. Refer to the list below. There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. The process for ensuring that a public information message was accurately conveyed is typically called: A. The role of the pubic information officer. Having clear goals is the foundation for your campaign. The Incident Command System is a fundamental element of emergency management. All of the above, 23. FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications. Select the correct definition 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. You can find the complete list of courses in the Spanish language course list. This course is designed for new or less experienced state, local, tribal and territorial PIOs or those who have this role as a secondary function. This course should take approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes to complete. A media pool: Note: Media pools can cause disagreements among the media. Measurement is how you evaluate success, but make sure your numbers reflect significant achievement. A Federal structure designed for large-scale, multijurisdictional incidents 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). Provide public information, emergency public information, and community education to your internal and external target audiences. Many times the site of a crisis or disaster may be considered a crime scene and needs to be processed by forensic units. 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. Many organizations follow stylebooks that establish how they will communicate with the public in terms of titles, capitalization, punctuation, and so on. It uses organizational charts that can be provided to the news media C. It was created for first responders and is helpful at the beginning of an incident D. It has been proven effective during massive wildfire incidents. A campaign on hurricane awareness wont get much play in December. Prepare a Go Kit filled with your tools, contact information, and other vital documents. Lets review the different types of communication tools in more detail, starting with print media. Weve all seen at least one movie about flesh-eating zombies taking over (my personal favorite isResident Evil), but where do zombies come from and why do they love eating brains so much? Blogs to cover events as they are happening. Public awareness campaigns can run for weeks, months, or even sporadically throughout several years. Hundreds are so ill that they end up being admitted to the hospital. If you anticipate what they will want, you will have a better chance to manage the scene and help guide the story. The goal of this awareness course is to provide an orientation to the public information function and the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the public safety/emergency management environment. A defining characteristic of wiki technology is the ease with which pages can be created and updated. 1955 0 obj <>stream Identify the purpose of what you are writing and start with the main message. Describe how to effectively communicate orally and through written products. Describe the role and function of the PIO. If you determine the need for a media area: At the scene of an incident, the news medias most basic needs are access to information and images. User: 4. These people are your target audience. The media area is a place where media congregate to help enhance the flow of information. Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and . Studies show that people read differently online than when they read printed materials, therefore, when you write for the Web or social media you should: A. This course has presented you with tools that PIOs can use to communicate, the steps to develop a campaign to prepare your community, and ways to effectively provide critical information during an emergency. While local, tribal, territorial, and State governments may have different laws regarding transparency and open government the general principles are to be: As a PIO, it is important to know the laws that apply in your area because of your role in providing information to 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. Coming back after the fire to retrieve them, their ghostly shadows left indelible evidence of the inferno that swept through their home. FEMA IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness Answers. Derrick Jensen: The feedback we received from them, from the local media that we work with on a regular basis and have a pretty good relationship from them . Construct and deliver an appropriate crisis and emergency risk message. Each time this test is loaded, you will receive a unique set of questions and answers. Other data requires that you reach out to the target audiencefor example, to conduct focus group sessions or implement random telephone, email, or print surveys. Social networking sites are online communities that connect people. Avoid getting involved in these media disputes. The subject is the. Having such knowledge enables them to make informed choices that affect their health and well-being. Social marketing is the use of commercial marketing principles to: A. Narrator: Red Stick Ready targets every segment of the community. D. has become ever more complex as the challenge of delivering messages has evolved. Once you have identified your goal, write it down! Describe the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in an emergency. This lesson introduced you to the steps to create a preparedness campaign: These steps will help you develop a campaign that will inform the whole community about the importance of being ready and preparedness steps to take. Cell phone(s) with email capability or satellite phone(s), Flash drives and CDs* containing the elements of the crisis communication plan (including news media contact lists, PIO team contact lists, information materials, etc. If you hope to work with schools, plan well in advance to coordinate with their schedules and curriculum. Coordinate information being distributed to ensure consistency with other agencies messages. As a PIO, you will likely communicate public information and emergency public information as well as conduct community education. 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.

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