the role of the public information officer fema
Test the message on a safe audience B. 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. Social media sites help disaster survivors look for lost family members and pets, and provide information on where to get assistance, where to find shelter, and how to give aid. A PIOs proactive approach to public information enhances credibility in messaging. Quantify results when evaluating public information efforts. The role of the PIO is the same regardless of the type or size of the event. . NIMS describes the use of the Joint Information System (JIS) to complete the critical tasks of information sharing and coordination. D. The ninety-five (95%) segment of the 95/5 concept, 5. 0 Social media have changed how quickly information about a disaster is available. This awareness-level training is suitable for new PIOs. 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. 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. Responds to the media while respecting restrictions on the release of sensitive information. Resource Typing Definition for Response . Smith activated the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates State firefighting efforts in these situations. A public awareness campaign is a vehicle you can use to get your message out about being prepared. Weegy: The role of the pubic information officer is to gather facts and disseminate it to the media. Over 150 PIOs working a major disaster, often from different locationsall to ensure clear and accurate information is being delivered amid the confusion of a disaster response. The role of a PIO can be executed by one person or as a team, depending on the emergency and what resources are available. Identify how messages should be conveyed. The Governor is continuing to monitor the situation. This demonstrates how social media are now an integral part of our lives and a valuable part of the PIOs toolkit. 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. The PIOs primary responsibility to organizational leadership as an advisor is to: A. Communicates with internal and external stakeholders. Lets start by reviewing the Incident Command System (ICS) and the PIOs role in ICS. 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. Develop relationships with other organizations PIOs B. * The social media links provided are for reference only. (Unit 1), Describe the role and functions of the PIO. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?. A media pool: Note: Media pools can cause disagreements among the media. To help you in monitoring conversations on social media sites, you may want to use a social media monitoring tool or social media dashboard. D. should be knowledgeable, assertive, credible, flexible, able to perform under pressure, and accessible., 10. The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. FEMA-NIMS@fema.dhs.gov NIMS Basic Guidance for Public Information Officers 2 II. 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. 95% B. endstream endobj startxref The Zombie Survival Guide identifies the cause of zombies as a virus called solanum. Do they have special communication needs (e.g., visual or hearing impairments, or limited English proficiency)? The Public Information Officer is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. 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. Sometimes logging in for a session is recommended, to create a wiki-signature cookie for signing edits automatically. Understand the National Incident Management System, Incident Command System and their correlation with the emergency response system. The Mayors Office developed an outreach campaign known as Red Stick Ready. 19. 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. *F ;/7Bw1p i~$^y' _r] 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. FEMA IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness Answers. if4-0lP,H^F1!P`8FF@T br.afQP0G@U@} )F%H (wtP9 lF `PFn*Lks]k^s9LgsXxh|s ]bpa This lesson presents information on how to use your tools and relationships to communicate information to the community when something happens. Identify contacts and sources that are relevant to your organization. Different types of written products include the following: View actual news releases, statements, and fact sheets on the InciWeb site [http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/]. 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. Gathering feedback and heading off problems, Explaining your mission, policies, and goals. The Governor repeated his request that everyone use caution and heed warning messages on TV and radio, or in their newspapers. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. (Unit 3), List the steps of the 8-Step Model for Strategic Communications. endstream endobj 495 0 obj <. In a crisis, getting the right information to the right people at the right time is more important than catching a dangling participle! 140-character stand-alone micro-blog statements. Avoid visuals C. Chunk content to make it more scannable D. Maximize search results by using acronyms, 6. Describe how to effectively communicate orally and through written products. One of the advantages of the Incident Command System (ICS) is: A. . (For example: The suspicious package was the size of a laptop computer. The first step in developing a public awareness campaign is to research issues to identify relevant topics for your campaign. View IS-29.a - Public Information Officer Awareness | FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI).pdf from CIS 20 at SUNY Empire State College. B. is to wait for direction from the incident commander. C. includes reporting to the Operations Section Chief during an incident response. Communicating factual information with the public is the most important job function of a PIO. C. Identify all the news media covering the area. . Other zombie origins shown in films include radiation from a destroyed NASA Venus probe (as inNight of the Living Dead), as well as mutations of existing conditions such as prions, mad-cow disease, measles and rabies. 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.. Many times at the scene of an incident a media area can be set up to facilitate the enhanced flow of information between the PIO and the media. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 Its not complicated; its very easy for them, which makes for better reporting. Describe evolving media tools, including social media, for communication. C. result in the need to conduct follow-up interviews. D. enhance agency credibility. The 8-Step Communication Model includes:A. Assess the current situation 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. News releases should adhere to the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. As part of conducting research, you have identified populations in the community who are vulnerable and need the information from your campaign. Announce events of interest to your community or share information about an incident. How knowledgeable is the audience on this topic? Prepare a Go Kit filled with your tools, contact information, and other vital documents. The following table shows what you need to provide for a television story, the advantages of television, and its limitations. Resident/Non-Resident, Trainer Program, etc. The following was originally posted on CDC Public Health Matters Blog on May 16, 2011, by Ali S. Khan. Governor James Smith today declared a state of emergency in the Great A&P fire that is rapidly spreading west. (Correct), The report was written by the officer. Develop and implement your campaign by setting a goal, creating a message, choosing your medium, and identifying timing. This is a release that you post online. This lesson covered the knowledge and skills you need to effectively manage emergency public information during an incident: The next lesson summarizes your role as a PIO and how to use all the tools available to you to help your community be prepared and to share critical information when an incident happens. News briefings or conferences and interviews are times when you will need to know how to (or prepare a speaker to) present information and respond to questions. Organizing the information in a news release so that the important information comes first is called: A. AP style B. Inverted pyramid C. JIC style D. Journalistic style, 7. Who is likely to be affected by the hazard or threat? 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. 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. The Public Information Officer may also perform a key public information-monitoring role. Examples of JIS configurations are: The previous examples of JIS configurations demonstrate that sometimes a location is needed to facilitate the operation of the JIS. 281757518-Role-of-Catering-Establishment-in-Tourism-Industry-PRINT.docx. if you do not have a sid, Test questions are scrambled to protect test integrity. Do you follow through? People use technology to tell others that they are okay. The process for ensuring that a public information message was accurately conveyed is typically called: A. An important part of the PIOs relationship with the media is knowing what they want. A good overview of ICS is provided in the independent study . They focus on specific issues or programs to move the public to take action. For example: Active voice is clear, direct, and concise. A goal that makes you stretch is good. A directory of your organizations Internet presence. Proactivity occurs during A. This process includes: Your goal statement expresses what you hope to achieve through your campaign. The Incident Command System is a fundamental element of emergency management. Monitor to determine if the media coverage is: Whether or not your organization is using social media, you should still monitor it. News releases are one of the most commonly used tools for PIOs. You have many resources available to ensure that the information reported about an event and your organization is true and accurate. To read this blog, go to:http://directorsblog.health.azdhs.gov, Example 1:Survivors of the April tornadoes have until Monday, June 27 to register for disaster assistance from FEMA as well as . Questions to answer when evaluating a public awareness campaign include the following: You can collect data about your campaign in different ways. Generally, there is no review before modifications are accepted. 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. Traditional media (print, radio, television). Evaluate the effectiveness of your campaign. Final Exam for: IS-29.a: Public Information Officer. 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. Use natural gestures, but dont cross your arms, raise your eyebrows, shrug your shoulders, sway, or bounce. 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 Describe how to manage the news media at the scene of an incident. Office: (301) 447-1200 Fax: (301) 447-1201, (800) 621-FEMA / TTY (800) 462-7585 Two PIOs talking to each other on the phone about a news story that involves both of their agencies. There are also professional social networking sites with sections for jobs. 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. Identify the purpose of what you are writing and start with the main message. Harvard psychiatrist Steven Scholzman wrote a (fictional) medical paper on the zombies presented inNight of the Living Deadand refers to the condition asAtaxic Neurodegenerative Satiety Deficiency Syndromecaused by an infectious agent. hbbd```b``+@$S4X$ vA$[0,v DI%09D`vH2& H/ `{I 30 0 `B Time will also impact the shelf-life of your campaign. Use the media area for all media releases and conferences. User: The Public Information Officer: A. Interfaces with the public and media and/or with other agencies regarding incident-related information requirements. 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. C. is presented as a bad example of public information management. Describe how to develop and execute a public awareness campaign. Sound bite B. Blogs to cover events as they are happening. They can be timelesslike encouraging children to be active. What is happening in other areas? 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). Please note that the is program now requires a fema sid to be used instead of your ssn. Avoid fillers (um, er, uh); dont be afraid to pause while formulating an answer. Are there warnings or other critical messages to be communicated to the public? AZ Department of Health Services Directors Blog. Emergency Manager jobs 33,535 open jobs 514 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<897144EC39D7C94ABD0F71D9C292EE4A><41375C8F366F3C4EA1877AFFBEEAAE0A>]/Index[494 31]/Info 493 0 R/Length 101/Prev 195410/Root 495 0 R/Size 525/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream The media will want to get as close as possible to get pictures/audio/interviews. 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. A validation of your key message C. Backgrounders D. Photos, charts, and graphics, 25. Timely updates and corrections to information in evolving incidents. (Passive). The public information officer for an organization A. should clear all public documents with neighboring agencies before release. Although its meaning has changed slightly over the years, it refers to a human corpse mysteriously reanimated to serve the undead. 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. 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. Once again, we see a fire threatening our citizens and their homes. Many different social media monitoring tools are available. Emergency Management Institute Keep the subject and verb close together. Media pools are used to restrict access to an area due to space limitations or safety issues. As a PIO, when you get to the scene, you will first make contact with the Incident Commander to gather information and assess the situation. What actions and resources are being used to achieve the objectives? 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. Additionally, it can provide those in executive-level roles with the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. 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.)? Successful written communication conveys your key messages and: More information on writing clearly and effectively is presented in Lesson 3. An important difference in these evolving media is that anyone can report the informationit could be a reporter, you, someone in your organization, or anyone in the public. If you need to build an email list, consider including a place for people to sign up on your Web site. Making sure community members understand the events that unfold during severe weather, pandemics, and non-emergency scenarios . Public awareness campaigns can run for weeks, months, or even sporadically throughout several years. endstream endobj 1929 0 obj <. All of the above, 23. @8'_= J J0 Break your ideas into one subject per sentence. %%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. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is:A. The 95/5 concept relates to non-emergency and emergency PIO activities 95% of most PIOs' work is in non-emergency times, with only 5% directly related to incident response or recovery. The rise of zombies in pop culture has given credence to the idea that a zombie apocalypse could happen. At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: In the previous lesson, you learned about the audiences with whom you will need to communicatethe media, the public, and employees and leaders within your organization. Salary Statistics for Public Information Officers. 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. Once you have identified your goal, write it down! Evolving media (Web sites, email, blogs, social networking sites, etc.). Increase community preparedness is not specific. This course should take approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes to complete. 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 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. You can find the complete list of courses in the Spanish language course list. Blogs are Web sites that allow you to engage in a conversation with readers. Write out the full term on first usage, as appropriate. Establishing relationships with news media representatives by being accessible and prepared. 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. 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.. Imagine your living room exploding in flames and your family cut off from the only door down the stairs from your second-floor condominium. The most popular social networking sites have groups, which offer chat boards for members. At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: Public awareness campaigns are ongoing public education programs that PIOs use to inform, educate, and increase organizational visibility. 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. Describe the target audiences for the PIO. Policies for evolving media (e.g., who can post, what can be posted, how to respond to negative comments, etc.). T;)D2Dt `NY"`~XH@P ` 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. School, 43 Margaret St. . The heat on the desert floor isnt just a nuisance, its expensive & lethal. Work within the emergency management system. A well-executed interview will likely not A. advance leaderships goals. PIOs need to have a complete understanding of the community's demographics in order to: A. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. Expert Help. 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. EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. 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. 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. 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, 8. Using acronyms in news releases may:A. They have access to the officials. Avoid getting involved in these media disputes. Email. 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: Narrator: While responding to disasters, Mayor Holden and his staff began to realize that many of the issues they faced repeatedly could be eliminated if the public was better prepared. Admissions Fax: (301) 447-1658, Independent Study Program Admissions Fax: (301) 447-1658, Independent Study Program Many Web sites include a blog as part of the site. Jeff Leduff: We are the first line of information for the rest of the team because were out there all the time. B. is not bound by public record laws. This course introduces PIOs with no, or limited, experience to the basic skills and tools needed to communicate effectively with the public. Select the right media to reach the target audience. Always connect with the Incident Commander before making any statement to the media. Now that you have some tips for better writing, lets look at how to write a news release. I would urge you to be careful whenever you travel, Smith said. Under the ICS, the PIO works for: A. 4. He and his wife threw open their window and helped their kids drop to waiting neighbors gathered below. 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. In other words, express parallel ideas in parallel grammatical forms. Another way to express your key message B. Public Information and Warning . Your media list should be current, complete, and tailored to your organization. What are people in your community concerned about? 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 Coming back after the fire to retrieve them, their ghostly shadows left indelible evidence of the inferno that swept through their home. nEAH {27(L( o 5UR\sR%or=uG5($#MJ (2*8T-\< 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. Managing public information is another fundamental element of emergency management. hb```f``z B@16 @>cC?v,gY&9w=K{mg,XRV3Z'le These examples are micro-blogs from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (Example 1), the Mayors Office of Homeland Security in Baton Rouge (LA) (Example 2), and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (Example 3).
