I. PURPOSE
To establish procedures for the dissemination of emergency information and instructions to the public through the media.

II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
A. Situation
1. Public Information Section (PIS):
· Any emergency or disaster will required that a centralized Public In-formation Section (PIS) be established to ensure that accurate, timely, and authorized information and instructions are issued to the public.

B. Assumptions
1. Public Information Office (PIO):

· PIS, headed by the Public Information Officer (Officer) and assistants, will coordinate closely with the agency or official having the overall responsibility for emergency and disaster operations with the Wood County Commission.

2. Emergency Services Director:

· Field chiefs may be designated to serve at disaster locations and report information directly to the Officer.

· The PIO will range in size from one person at an incident scene to a larger staff when the EOC is activated.
· This section will have an office established adjacent to the EOC.

III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A. General
1. Responsibilities:

· In an emergency/disaster situation, the Officer works with the EOC staff as an advisor to the Director .

· The Officer will have primary responsibility for informing the public and providing adequate information during an emergency or disaster.
· Will develop and maintain a public information program that can be put in action during an emergency or disaster.
· Direct the emergency public information program at the EOC.
· Will assist officers in preparing statements for Emergency Broadcast System.
· Supervise the media center in the EOC.
· In the case of an industrial or commercial incident involving hazardous materials, the Officer will coordinate with the private sector to insure that proper and correct statements are issued to the EBS and other media for dissemination to the public.
· The Officer will assign personnel to the scene of an incident to insure that the proper information is passed to the EOC for proper dissemination to proper officials, the EBS, and other media and the public.
· Coordinate visitor control at EOC and disaster sites.
· Coordinate the use of mobile public address equipment to dis- seminate disaster related information to the public.
· Will keep an accurate record of statements, news releases, and other information disseminated containing date, time, whose authority, and the information.
· In carrying out duties of the position, the Officer will be acting within the policy guidelines established by the Wood County Commission.
· The Officer may make recommendations to the Wood County Commission for a change in guideline procedures to provide the public with more needed information.
2. Designation:

· The Officer will be named by the Director of the Wood County Emergency Services Office functions necessary to provide the public with adequate information at all stages of an emergency or disaster.

3. Assessment:

· The Officer should make an early assessment of damage and local governmental capabilities to the media to determine if alternate means for disseminating information may be required.

4. Recovery:

· In the recovery period, priority should be given to the restoration of radio and television stations, newspaper plants, and news service organizations to restore the flow of public information.

B. Management Concepts
1. Mitigation Activities:

· Appoint a Public Information Officer.

· Developing on-going relationships with all local media.
· Designate a media room in the EOC.
· Develop the EBS and exercise it regularly.
2. Preparedness Activities:

· Conduct public information and education programs.


· Prepare emergency information packets for release during emer-gencies.


· Distribute pertinent materials to the local media.


· Test EBS on a routine basis.

3. Response Activities:

· Activate EBS.


· Distribute press releases and emergency information packets.


· Coordinate rumor control.


· Schedule news conference.

4. Recovery Activities:
· Continue emergency public information programs.
· Assess effectiveness of public information and education programs.
· Compile a chronological record of events.



IV. ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
A. Emergency Alert System (EAS)
1. Commercial Control Station:
· Radio station WXIL (FM) is designated with the Common Control Station (CCS) for the Parkersburg, Wood County op- erational area.
· The Officer will coordinate with Wood County's Office of Emergency Services and the designated EBS station to develop activation procedures for the EBS.
· Activation of the EBS involves the following procedures:
· Request activation of EBS through WXIL (FM) - Phone Number: 485-7425 or 485-4049 or 485-9945.
· Work out broadcast details (live or recorded, immediate or delayed) with broadcast station personnel.
· This is _____(name and title)_______ of _____(jurisdiction)___________ with a request to activate the Parkersburg EAS. I authenticate as follows:________________________________.
· Describe the nature of the emergency.
· Describe actions being taken.
· Give instructions or messages to the public.
· Issue Parkersburg operational area termination.



V. DIRECTION AND CONTROL
A. Public Information Officer (Officer)
· The Officer will act within the policy guidelines established by the Wood County Commission is consultation with the Emergency Services Director.
· The Officer does not have the authority to decide what facilities, format or wording is best suited for dissemination of information.
· The Officer may make recommendations and advice to the responsible local official regarding:
· Conducting a press conference
· Issuing a news bulletin or press release
· Making an official statement
· The Officer is to point out to the Wood County Commission or Emer-gency Services Director situations where the public is not being pro- vided appropriate information and advise on how best to rectify the situation.

VI. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
· The Officer should document all press released with time, date, and who authorized the release for future reference.
· The Officer should attend all critique sessions after the emergency or disaster to aid in the assessment of the agency's responses.
· Plans and Operating Procedures should be updated after the emergency or disaster to ensure a more efficient future response.
· The following documents and aids should be prepositioned in the EOC
· to assist the Officer:
· Roster of key local radio, television, news media, and other of-ficials and alternates including their names, organizations, busi- ness and home addresses, and telephone numbers. (Annex D, Resource Management, Volume II, Appendices)
· Suggested news releases. (Volume II, Annex C, Appendices)

VII. PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE
· The Officer has the responsibility to periodically review, update, exercise, modify, and approve the Public Information Annex.
· The Officer, working under the direction of the Emergency Services Director, should also maintain an inventory of emergency public infor- mation materials.






AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES

1. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Job Aid Manual. SM-61.1, Emmitsburg:

FEMA 1983.
2. Wood County Office of Emergency Services: Wood County Emergency Operations
Plan. Parkersburg: 1981, Revised 1998.

3. Lake County Civil Defense Office. Lake County Emergency Operations Plan. Madison: 1976.