1. The PIO in ICS Public Information in an Incident Command System Setting

2. Incident Command System

3. Responsibility for Incident Info Incident Commander is responsible for managing public information. Incident Commander is responsible for managing public information. Depending on the scope of the incident he may delegate the responsibility of Public Information Officer to another responder. Depending on the scope of the incident he may delegate the responsibility of Public Information Officer to another responder. This PIO reports directly to the Incident Commander. This PIO reports directly to the Incident Commander.

4. PIO’s Role Collect, verify, assemble and disseminate information. Collect, verify, assemble and disseminate information. Act as advisory resource for the IC. Act as advisory resource for the IC. Help make decisions about health, safety and welfare of community and responders. Help make decisions about health, safety and welfare of community and responders.

5. PIO’s Duties Inform the public via the media. Inform the public via the media. Manage the media at the scene. Manage the media at the scene. Manage the flow of information. Manage the flow of information.

6. What is Public Information Info. that is used to ensure the public’s safety. Info. that is used to ensure the public’s safety. Protects the interest and welfare of the public. Protects the interest and welfare of the public. Legal issues. Legal issues.

7. Goals Educate and inform the public Educate and inform the public Change behaviors and attitudes. Change behaviors and attitudes. Call people to act. Call people to act. Create positive image. Create positive image. Always tell the truth. Always tell the truth.

8. Purpose of Information Save lives. Save lives.  Emergency Alert System Protect property. Protect property. Minimize impact to the environment. Minimize impact to the environment.

9. When is a PIO Needed? Breaking news. Breaking news. Response actions required. Response actions required. Issue warnings and advisories. Issue warnings and advisories. News conferences and briefings. News conferences and briefings. Confidence in government. Confidence in government.

10. Community Relations Know your community. Know your community. Demographics. Demographics. Community organizations. Community organizations. Know preparedness attitudes. Know preparedness attitudes.

11. Media Relations Credibility with media. Credibility with media. Be aware of media needs. Be aware of media needs. Ensure media access within the bounds of safety. Ensure media access within the bounds of safety. Respect media deadlines. Respect media deadlines.

12. Writing Skills Outlines thoughts. Outlines thoughts. Sentence structure, spelling and grammar. Sentence structure, spelling and grammar. Provide information needed. Provide information needed.  Who, what, when, where… Produce quality documents. Produce quality documents.

13. Public Speaking Work from outline: Work from outline:  Don’t read verbatim unless required. Deliver your message Deliver your message  Speak confidently and persuasively. Appearance Appearance

14. Presentation Skills Photography and video. Photography and video. Computers: Computers:  Powerpoint Handouts and transparencies. Handouts and transparencies. Graphics. Graphics.

15. At the Scene Get briefing from Incident Commander. Take notes. Get briefing from Incident Commander. Take notes. Locate and establish media area. Locate and establish media area.  With view of scene if possible.  Safe area  Background for photography Ensure media safety. Ensure media safety.

16. Initially... Identify yourself with vest or badge. Identify yourself with vest or badge. Make organization insignia visible. Make organization insignia visible. Briefly summarize what is going on. Briefly summarize what is going on. Answer questions. If you don’t know the answer, say so. Answer questions. If you don’t know the answer, say so. Schedule updates and keep to your schedule. Schedule updates and keep to your schedule.

17. Large or Multi-jurisdictional Incidents Coordinate with other agency representatives. Coordinate with other agency representatives. More than one PIO? If so, deal only with your agency’s activities More than one PIO? If so, deal only with your agency’s activities Establish a media pool Establish a media pool  Sharing of tapes or photos

18. PIO in the EMO Control media access. Control media access. Schedule conferences and updates with regard to deadlines. Schedule conferences and updates with regard to deadlines. Recruit competent help…you’ll need it. Recruit competent help…you’ll need it. Communications with IC, on-scene, and support personnel. Communications with IC, on-scene, and support personnel.

19. Proactive vs. Reactive Good relationship with media representatives Good relationship with media representatives Plan ahead Plan ahead Anticipate hazards Anticipate hazards Deliver message while protecting victims. Deliver message while protecting victims. Tell the truth Tell the truth Unprepared Shoot from the hip Not credible Insensitive to those affected by the incident. Evasive- “Hiding Something”

20. Scene Management Preplans. Preplans. Scene assessment. Scene assessment. Organize information…use standard form. Organize information…use standard form. Establish media area. Establish media area. Updates. Updates. Post-incident briefing. Post-incident briefing.

21. Summary Deliver accurate and timely information. Deliver accurate and timely information. Life safety is first priority. Life safety is first priority. The media is not the enemy. The media is not the enemy. Be Prepared! Be Prepared!