the role of the public information officer fema

NIMS provides a consistent, systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment. 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. 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. Promote government programs and activities B. It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). The Governor declared the emergency following a similar declaration by Liberty County. Because its money well spent in the end and if your PIOs can learn from other areas of the Nation that are doing things well, send them there, let them learn from the people who have done it before, so that when they come back they can build a system that works for you. Doug Miser. hb```f``z B@16 @>cC?v,gY&9w=K{mg,XRV3Z'le %%EOF 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. Possess and enhance certain qualities and skills that make an effective PIO. 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. In their haste, each suffered minor injuries, including stitches for their son who cut his ankle on the glass of the first floor window. 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. 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. Many organizations follow stylebooks that establish how they will communicate with the public in terms of titles, capitalization, punctuation, and so on. C. is presented as a bad example of public information management. What events nationally and globally are in the news? You cant manage who shows up but you can and should manage contact with the site. Verdi White: And I believe that that has helped in our relationship with the media. 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. In order to maintain the integrity of the scene and enhance the possibility for a successful investigation and subsequent prosecution, the scene must be kept clear of all nonessential personnel. 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. 0 For highly visible or controversial matters, it might be best to have a leader in the organization speak. Lesson 3 introduced the importance of establishing relationships with the media. In movies, shows, and literature, zombies are often depicted as being created by an infectious virus, which is passed on via bites and contact with bodily fluids. 50% C. 25% D. 5%, 9. Always connect with the Incident Commander before making any statement to the media. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is:A. Mayor Holden: We have what they call Mayor Mouse, and Mayor Mouse basically is operated to go to various schools. 1928 0 obj <> endobj It is important to note that traditional media sources are not being replaced by social media; instead, traditional media are using social media to connect with their audiences and expand their reach. Avoid fillers (um, er, uh); dont be afraid to pause while formulating an answer. The participant will benefit from participating in entry-level incident command system training prior to taking this course. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 Smith activated the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates State firefighting efforts in these situations. Campaigns are usually multifaceted, combining events and various media to get the message out. D. is only useful on television infomercials. B. is to wait for direction from the incident commander. C. includes reporting to the Operations Section Chief during an incident response. Develop and implement your campaign by setting a goal, creating a message, choosing your medium, and identifying timing. The public information officer (PIO) reports to the incident commander, who in turn reports to the agency or jurisdictions responsible. With passive voice, the subject is thereceiverof the action. (Unit 5). Lets review the different types of communication tools in more detail, starting with print media. 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. Email is also an ideal tool for communicating within your organization because you generally have access to your colleagues email addresses. hbbd```b``+@$S4X$ vA$[0,v DI%09D`vH2& H/ `{I 30 0 `B At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: Key to being an effective PIO in an emergency is the ability to: Lets start by looking at what you need to know about emergency management. B. an important part of the PIOs job. Through ancient voodoo and folk-lore traditions, shows like theWalking Deadwere born. Emergency Management Institute In all cases, the campaign will include a compelling message and a clear link to the organizations overall goals and priorities. or a non-emergency event. A news conference or briefing may be used when you want to: A news conference or briefing may be announced by using a press release or media advisory. 3 Step Guide for Assistance. Tammy Kikuchi: I would say it, whatever expense it takes for your Public Information Officers to get the training, spend it. There are also professional social networking sites with sections for jobs. The subject is the. Contact local, tribal, territorial, and State press associations to obtain media lists. endstream endobj 1929 0 obj <. Communicating public information messages internally to the workforce is important because it allows the PIO to: A. Also, it may be necessary to explain to them the danger, and how if they fail to heed the warnings and become injured, they may endanger others who would have to then go in to rescue them (e.g., passing into the plume of a Hazmat area, traveling over an unsafe structure that may collapse, or moving into the line of fire of an armed suspect). Practice talking in 5-second to 8-second sound bites. Wear your uniform or neat, conservative attire if not in uniform. 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. Media pools are used to restrict access to an area due to space limitations or safety issues. D. a required responsibility of the PIO as outlined by NIMS.. A social networking site is a great tool for: Now you know about the many tools available to get your message out. A directory of your organizations Internet presence. Serves in an ICS role 2. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. wA{)K+Xk80538L``V[mvWS|?9U7 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. 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. This physical site is called the Joint Information Center (JIC), and is the location where: Narrator: When the State of Utah began to accept evacuees from the Gulf States as a result of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, they implemented a Joint Information Center. 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. As a PIO, your target audiences include . Creates a positive impression of your organization. Mayor Holden: We need to get in advance of different things that could happen, and begin to put a television show together to talk about the things that people should be aware of and what they can do. . !]U9[MZ\waQ>yICK{",|.NH&ec* 'C/M;WrQJ6bs\ 886} 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. You need to write to your audience. It is important to prepare each person to ensure your message is consistent. C. is a failed theory and should not be used by modern public information officers. This lesson presents information on tools you can use in support of your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). Please note that the is program now requires a fema sid to be used instead of your ssn. Use natural gestures, but dont cross your arms, raise your eyebrows, shrug your shoulders, sway, or bounce. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 To help you in monitoring conversations on social media sites, you may want to use a social media monitoring tool or social media dashboard. Resident/Non-Resident, Trainer Program, etc. The process for ensuring that a public information message was accurately conveyed is typically called: A. Poor grammar and misspelled words can confuse the audience and hurt your credibility, but the most important goal is to communicate. for the incident. When something happens, the PIO needs the media to get information to the public but also needs to manage the scene and guide the story. Resident/Non-Resident, Trainer Program, etc. Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. 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. Its community preparedness. Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and . On average, between 30 and 80 Arizona residents die from heat related illnesses every summer. Describe the role of the PIO in an emergency. A tornado strikes in the Midwest. With an eye on public safety, the mayor began looking for a way to educate people about disaster preparation and response. Goals should be stated in clear, concise terms that have meaning for those working on the campaign and other key stakeholders. Access to you and the newsmakers or persons in charge. Consider your resources and your role in ICS. For each of these toolstelevision, newspaper, radio, news briefings, and evolving mediayou need written products. Make it less likely that your release will be cut C. Impress people in the target audience D. Be a barrier to communication, 22. C. will transfer to a planning position if no media covers an incident. Angie Welling: Pretty much every State agency was involved, and thats when we found out pretty early on that the Governor had involved every aspect of State government. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the whole community regarding the importance of being prepared for an incident. Tammy Kikuchi: The response was overwhelming. 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. 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. What do they already know about the topic? 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 The training courses listed below include those delivered at the state, local, tribal, and territorial level as well as higher-level training managed by EMIs subject matter expert training teams. While it is not the responsibility of the PIO to provide food or facilities for the media, a little kindness in this area can go far in building a positive relationship with the mediaespecially if the incident occurs in a remote area where few if any comfort facilities exist (e.g., if the incident is in a remote field, a porta-john will go a long way in making friends!). All goals should have a target date for completion. Prepare a Go Kit filled with your tools, contact information, and other vital documents. A good overview of ICS is provided in the independent study . . Once again, we see a fire threatening our citizens and their homes. Watching the background. T;)D2Dt `NY"`~XH@P ` Describe how to manage the news media at the scene of an incident. (Unit 4), Given a scenario, apply the 8-Step Model to a public awareness campaign. Its not complicated; its very easy for them, which makes for better reporting. 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. Admissions Fax: (301) 447-1658, Independent Study Program The information you provide: In addition to the qualities necessary to be a good PIO, there are skills and knowledge you need to ensure your success. Sound bite B. And thats not all. 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. Describe how to effectively communicate orally and through written products. Youll be quite surprised at how the elected official mouse makes all the difference with the children. Each time this test is loaded, you will receive a unique set of questions and answers. Tools to enhance the flow of public information are housed. Write out the full term on first usage, as appropriate. 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. View IS-29.a - Public Information Officer Awareness | FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI).pdf from CIS 20 at SUNY Empire State College. 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. They can be timelesslike encouraging children to be active. Emergency Manager jobs 33,535 open jobs There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. 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. 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. Public information is a vital function in disaster operations that contributes greatly to saving lives and protecting property. D. takes its origin from two sources: management consultant D. Edward Deming and Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto.. Coordinate information being distributed to ensure consistency with other agencies messages. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. Operates with the understanding that any video, audio, or interviews acquired will be shared with the rest of the media. Resource Typing Definition for Response . 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. 140-character stand-alone micro-blog statements. 1. The EMI training program provides PIOs with the opportunity to learn and practice the tasks of gathering, verifying, coordinating, and disseminating public information at all levels of government.. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Terms of Use, IS-100.b, Introduction to the Incident Command System, IS-200.b, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents, IS-700, National Incident Management System, An Introduction, ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents, ICS-400, Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff, IS-702.a, National Incident Management System (NIMS) Public Information Systems, IS-800.c, National Response Framework, An Introduction. Announce events of interest to your community or share information about an incident. The AP Stylebook is used by most of the news media. Gather, verify, coordinate, and disseminate public information in an emergency from a Joint Information Center. 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.). 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. Having such knowledge enables them to make informed choices that affect their health and well-being. (Passive). The steps to organize and conduct a news conference or briefing are: Note: You may want to identify several knowledgeable people to assist and provide information at the news conference or briefing. EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. Develop relationships with other organizations PIOs B. C. Identify all the news media covering the area. 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. As a PIO, you communicate with your target audiences to keep them informed about activities, events, and resources. Knowing how to effectively speak to media representatives using both verbal and nonverbal communication. Admissions Fax: (301) 447-1658, Independent Study Program The news media and local government ask the community to send videos and photos via social media, email, and text messages. Be accessible and return calls and emails promptly. Mayor Holden: Sometimes you have to get your story out very quickly. Identify contacts and sources that are relevant to your organization. Different types of Web sites can be used to get information to your community: Email is another way that you can get information to members of your community and organization. Please review the IS FAQ's for more information. Gathering feedback and heading off problems, Explaining your mission, policies, and goals. A media pool: Note: Media pools can cause disagreements among the media. One that is completely out of reach is de-motivating. Email can be used to get people: In order for email to work, you need to have a good email distribution list. Below are some, but not all, of the critical skill sets learned during this training program: Personnel who are assigned or may be designated to perform public information duties during an incident, emergency, or disaster and anyone in a response discipline who may be assigned or designated to perform public information duties. Use jargon to communicate with your target audience B. %%EOF Example: Press Release Using Inverted Pyramid Format. The news release should use the inverted pyramid as illustrated below. Refer to the list below. Campaign topics can range from recruiting volunteers to fire safety. Do not be afraid to put bad news first if that is the message. Do you follow through? This lesson introduced you to different tools you can use to communicate your message as a PIO, including: In the next lesson you will learn how to prepare quality written products for these tools and how to speak effectively with the media and to the public. This process includes: Your goal statement expresses what you hope to achieve through your campaign. Select it carefully and choose your background wisely. Successful written communication conveys your key messages and: More information on writing clearly and effectively is presented in Lesson 3. Here are the FEMA test answers to IS-29.A: Public Information Officer Awareness. Many times the site of a crisis or disaster may be considered a crime scene and needs to be processed by forensic units. ICS is used to manage an emergency incident (like a wildland fire, search and rescue, hurricane, etc.) Well, were here to answer that question for you, and hopefully share a few tips about preparing forrealemergencies too! Are there cultural differences to take into consideration? They can be seasonallike hurricane preparedness week. Sit on your coat tail to keep your jacket from riding up. Students also learn message development and delivery, legal considerations, press conferences, the operation of a Joint Information Center, stress management, and strategic communication and planning. Preparing quality written products including news releases. Illustrate the multiple roles of the Public Information Officer and the media in planning for and responding to an emergency. Lieutenant Doug McCleve: The feedback that Im getting, at least from my local news media, is that theyve been very pleased with the access theyve had. A news release should be used when an activity or incident is newsworthy based on: News releases should be printed on your organizations letterhead and include a header with contact information (name and number), date, and a news release number. Allows access to one media representative from television, radio, print, and Internet to a restricted area. 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. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. In this lesson youll learn more about creating public awareness campaigns. ), Manuals and background information necessary to provide needed information to the public and media, Topic-specific fact sheets, backgrounders, talking points, and news release templates (hard copy and electronic), Business cards with 24/7 contact information, Funding mechanism (i.e., credit card, etc.) Tammy Kikuchi: Having the Joint Information Center for this event was critical. Managing public information is another fundamental element of emergency management. Develops a strategy or plan for handling the incident, monitors it in process, and adjusts the plan as needed. Your media list should be current, complete, and tailored to your organization. Provide public information, emergency public information, and community education to your internal and external target audiences. endstream endobj startxref 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 . It may be a good idea to record how many news releases you sent out, but the amount of media coverage you receive (e.g., column inches, mentions on news programs, and number of radio interviews) is more indicative of success. 0

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