Communicating Communicating Emergency Emergency

Information Information To Local Citizens To Local Citizens

And And First RespondersFirst Responders

Communication During Communication During A DisasterA Disaster

National Incident Management National Incident Management System (NIMS)System (NIMS)• Incident Command SystemIncident Command System• Public Information OfficerPublic Information Officer

Interoperable Communication Interoperable Communication to/from field to/from field

Incident Command System Incident Command System (ICS)(ICS)

ICS is managing an incident within a ICS is managing an incident within a common organizational structure common organizational structure which integrates: which integrates: • FacilitiesFacilities• EquipmentEquipment• PersonnelPersonnel• ProceduresProcedures• CommunicationsCommunications

ICS ICS ChartChart

Flexible

Scalable

Incident Command System (ICS)

Incident Commander

Public Information Officer (PIO)Public Information Officer (PIO)

Communicates Communicates with the media and with the media and the public the public

All information All information during an incident during an incident comes from one comes from one source (PIO or source (PIO or Chief Elected Chief Elected Official)Official)

Emergency OperatiEmergency Operation Center (EOC)on Center (EOC)

Joint Information Center (JIC)Joint Information Center (JIC)

JIC: Agencies PIO’s collocate to jointly JIC: Agencies PIO’s collocate to jointly perform crisis communicationperform crisis communication

Communicates coordinate message from Communicates coordinate message from all agencies involvedall agencies involved

Incorporate requirements for special Incorporate requirements for special population messagespopulation messages

Message is shared through multiple Message is shared through multiple mediums (TV, radio, paper, Emergency mediums (TV, radio, paper, Emergency Alert System, Emergency Notification Alert System, Emergency Notification Systems)Systems)

Communicating Communicating Emergency Information to Emergency Information to

CitizensCitizens

Methods of Communicating to Methods of Communicating to CitizensCitizens

Non-interactiveNon-interactive Emergency Alert Emergency Alert

System (EAS)System (EAS) Emergency Emergency

Notification Notification System/Reverse 911System/Reverse 911

WebsitesWebsites Pamphlets and Pamphlets and

newslettersnewsletters Fire, Severe Weather, Fire, Severe Weather,

Winter Weather Winter Weather Awareness Weeks Awareness Weeks CampaignsCampaigns

National Preparedness National Preparedness Month (Sept.)Month (Sept.)

MediaMedia

InteractiveInteractive County and State FairsCounty and State Fairs Emergency Emergency

Preparedness ExpoPreparedness Expo Exercises (mock Exercises (mock

disaster drills)disaster drills) CERT (Community CERT (Community

Emergency Response Emergency Response Team)Team)

HotlinesHotlines Responders going Responders going

door to door/using door to door/using bullhornsbullhorns

Emergency Notification System

Communicating Emergency Communicating Emergency Information to First RespondersInformation to First Responders

First RespondersFirst Responders

Build coordination and Build coordination and communication communication before a disaster!before a disaster!

“ “ Wrong time to shake hands is after Wrong time to shake hands is after the tornado”the tornado”

Utilize Committees/Groups amongst Utilize Committees/Groups amongst responding agenciesresponding agencies

Coordination GroupsCoordination Groups

County agencies:County agencies: Continuity of Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and Operations Plan (COOP) and Emergency Operation Center (EOC)Emergency Operation Center (EOC)

Domestic Preparedness:Domestic Preparedness: Law Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMSEnforcement, Fire, and EMS

Voluntary Agencies Active in DisasterVoluntary Agencies Active in Disaster (VOAD):(VOAD): Red Cross, Amateur Radio, Red Cross, Amateur Radio, Nechama, and Humane SocietyNechama, and Humane Society

Coordination Groups, cont.Coordination Groups, cont.

Emergency Preparedness Team: Emergency Preparedness Team: Public Public HealthHealth

Hospitals: Hospitals: Mass CasualtiesMass Casualties Private Business: Private Business: Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Materials and

Business Continuity planningBusiness Continuity planning Radiological Emergency Preparedness: Radiological Emergency Preparedness:

Disasters hitting nuclear power plantsDisasters hitting nuclear power plants Regional & State Emergency Management: Regional & State Emergency Management:

Twin Cities and MN Twin Cities and MN

Incident Command System (ICS)Incident Command System (ICS)

ICS ICS • Chain of Command, information Chain of Command, information

given/received and not lost given/received and not lost ICS ChartICS Chart• Chiefs and Incident Commander are Chiefs and Incident Commander are

aware of activitiesaware of activities• Standardized titles Standardized titles • Ability to share information between Ability to share information between

city, county, and state, and federal city, county, and state, and federal governmentsgovernments

Interoperable CommunicationsInteroperable Communications RadioRadio

• Ultra High/Very Ultra High/Very High Frequencies High Frequencies (UHF/VHF)(UHF/VHF)

• 800 Mega Hertz 800 Mega Hertz (MHz) (MHz)

• Amateur RadioAmateur Radio

Wireless Wireless CommunicationsCommunications• Cell phonesCell phones• InternetInternet• Text MessagingText Messaging• Virtual Emergency Virtual Emergency

Operation Center Operation Center (EOC)(EOC)

Key ChallengesKey Challenges CitizensCitizens

• Following information provided during an emergency Following information provided during an emergency (take shelter, evacuate, boil water)(take shelter, evacuate, boil water)

• Assume “someone” will be there right after the incidentAssume “someone” will be there right after the incident• Message is not applicable to them “Happens to someone Message is not applicable to them “Happens to someone

else”else”

First RespondersFirst Responders• September 30, 2006 National Incident Management September 30, 2006 National Incident Management

System Training RequirementSystem Training Requirement• Public Health – not a First Responder or do not Public Health – not a First Responder or do not

understand their roleunderstand their role• Radio Frequencies – cost of 800 MHzRadio Frequencies – cost of 800 MHz• Technology - time and $ for purchase/trainingTechnology - time and $ for purchase/training• First Responders wear multiple hatsFirst Responders wear multiple hats

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned CitizensCitizens

• Emergency Alert System needs updatingEmergency Alert System needs updating• Must use Emergency Notification System regularly (for Must use Emergency Notification System regularly (for

staff and citizen benefit)staff and citizen benefit)• Pre-education on local hazards & methods of Pre-education on local hazards & methods of

communicationcommunication• Emergency Preparedness KitsEmergency Preparedness Kits

First RespondersFirst Responders• Training on NIMS – Louisiana After Action Report (AAR)Training on NIMS – Louisiana After Action Report (AAR)• Role of the Public Information Officer & public Role of the Public Information Officer & public

perceptionsperceptions• Exercising – using the Incident Command System in Exercising – using the Incident Command System in

various situationsvarious situations

Questions?

Co

mm

Cen

ter

Storage

VOAD

Liaison Officer

National Guard

Kitchen

Entrance

Washington County EOC Operations Room Diagram

Finance Chief

Planning Chief

Ops Chief

Deputy Ops Chief

Law Enf Branch Dir

Transp & Phy Dev Branch

Dir

EOC Command

Co Admin

Fire Branch Dir

Comm Serv Branch Dir

Health Branch

Dir

Safety Officer

EOC Mgr

Logistics Chief

PIO

Other

HSEM RPC

OtherOtherFEMAOther

X4853

X4852

X4851

X4850

X4856

X4857 X7939

X4860

X4859

X4858

X4855

X4854

X7632

X4865

X4866

X4867

X4868

X4870

X4869

Emergency Operation Center (EOC)Emergency Operation Center (EOC)

PIO

Conference Room S109J

Office

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) S108

Storage S108L

Command Staff General Staff

Operations Section(see the EOC Diagram for position

locations and phone numbers)

Planning SectionResource Unit Situation Unit

Documentation Unit Demobilization Unit Tech Specialists

GIS TechAmateur Radio

Public I nformation

Offi cer (PIO)Logistics Section

Support Branch DirectorSupply Unit Facilities Unit Ground Support Unit

Service Branch DirectorCommunication Unit Medical Unit Food Unit

Bathroom Bathroom

Shower

Emergency Manager

Office S108H Copy Room S108G

Office S108D

Kitchen

Office

Su

pp

lies

S1

08

MOffice

EOC Reception

Communication Center S102

Washington County EOC Office Diagram

x7621

x7682

x4864

x4863x4862

x4861

x7938

x7689

x7636

Office

x7938 Phone Number

Emergency Operations

Normal Operations

Legend

PIO