The PIO in ICS

Public Information in an Public Information in an Incident Command System Incident Command System

SettingSetting

Incident Command Incident Command SystemSystem

INFORMAT IONOFFICER

OPERAT IONS PLANNING LOG IST ICS FINANCE

INC IDENTCOMMANDER

Responsibility for Incident Info Incident Commander is responsible Incident Commander is responsible

for managing public information.for managing public information. Depending on the scope of the Depending on the scope of the

incident he may delegate the incident he may delegate the responsibility of Public Information responsibility of Public Information Officer to another responder.Officer to another responder.

This PIO reports directly to the This PIO reports directly to the Incident Commander.Incident Commander.

PIO’s Role

Collect, verify, assemble and Collect, verify, assemble and disseminate information.disseminate information.

Act as advisory resource for the Act as advisory resource for the IC.IC.

Help make decisions about health, Help make decisions about health, safety and welfare of community safety and welfare of community and responders.and responders.

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.

What is Public Information Info. that is used to ensure the Info. that is used to ensure the

public’s safety.public’s safety. Protects the interest and welfare Protects the interest and welfare

of the public.of the public. Legal issues.Legal issues.

Goals

Educate and inform the publicEducate 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.

Purpose of Information

Save lives.Save lives. Emergency Alert SystemEmergency Alert System

Protect property.Protect property. Minimize impact to the Minimize impact to the

environment.environment.

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.

Community Relations

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

Media Relations

Credibility with media.Credibility with media. Be aware of media needs.Be aware of media needs. Ensure media access within the Ensure media access within the

bounds of safety.bounds of safety. Respect media deadlines.Respect media deadlines.

Writing Skills

Outlines thoughts.Outlines thoughts. Sentence structure, spelling and Sentence structure, spelling and

grammar.grammar. Provide information needed.Provide information needed.

Who, what, when, where…Who, what, when, where… Produce quality documents.Produce quality documents.

Public Speaking

Work from outline:Work from outline: Don’t read verbatim unless Don’t read verbatim unless

required.required. Deliver your messageDeliver your message

Speak confidently and Speak confidently and persuasively.persuasively.

Appearance Appearance

Presentation Skills

Photography and video.Photography and video. Computers:Computers:

PowerpointPowerpoint Handouts and transparencies.Handouts and transparencies. Graphics.Graphics.

At the Scene

Get briefing from Incident Get briefing from Incident Commander. Take notes.Commander. Take notes.

Locate and establish media area.Locate and establish media area. With view of scene if possible.With view of scene if possible. Safe areaSafe area Background for photographyBackground for photography

Ensure media safety.Ensure media safety.

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 Answer questions. If you don’t know

the answer, say so.the answer, say so. Schedule updates and keep to your Schedule updates and keep to your

schedule.schedule.

Large or Multi-jurisdictional Incidents Coordinate with other agency Coordinate with other agency

representatives.representatives. More than one PIO? If so, deal More than one PIO? If so, deal

only with your agency’s activitiesonly with your agency’s activities Establish a media poolEstablish a media pool

Sharing of tapes or photosSharing of tapes or photos

PIO in the EMO

Control media access.Control media access. Schedule conferences and updates Schedule conferences and updates

with regard to deadlines.with regard to deadlines. Recruit competent help…you’ll Recruit competent help…you’ll

need it.need it. Communications with IC, on-Communications with IC, on-

scene, and support personnel.scene, and support personnel.

Proactive vs. Reactive Good relationship Good relationship

with media with media representativesrepresentatives

Plan aheadPlan ahead Anticipate hazardsAnticipate hazards Deliver message Deliver message

while protecting while protecting victims.victims.

Tell the truthTell the truth

UnpreparedUnprepared Shoot from the Shoot from the

hiphip Not credibleNot credible Insensitive to Insensitive to

those affected by those affected by the incident.the incident.

Evasive- “Hiding Evasive- “Hiding Something”Something”

Scene Management

Preplans.Preplans. Scene assessment.Scene assessment. Organize information…use Organize information…use

standard form.standard form. Establish media area.Establish media area. Updates.Updates. Post-incident briefing.Post-incident briefing.

Summary

Deliver accurate and timely Deliver accurate and timely information.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!