By Lisa Miller
Traveler information manager
UDOT
If you haven’t already attended the FEMA Advanced Public Information Officer (PIO) course… do it. The training, held at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is well worth the effort.
This five-day course refreshes the fundamentals that every PIO should have in their toolbox and covers a wealth of advanced information that will improve your perspective and reach as a PIO. Instructions for how to apply are at the end of this post.
Here’s a snapshot of what I learned:
Network
The attendees of this class speak your language. They have had similar situations. There is a wealth of knowledge to transfer just by having lunch and dinner together. This class had nearly 50 participants from all over the nation representing fire, police, National Guard, FEMA and public agencies. We’re all keeping in touch via a Facebook page specifically for our class.
Exercises are critically important
We already know this, but finding time can be difficult. The class schedule blocked 1½ days for a functional exercise focused on Joint Information Center (JIC) coordination. There was a state JIC for the first time in the class as well as local JICs for each fictitious municipality. The injects were phenomenal and encouraged us to build on our institutional knowledge as well as struggle a bit with the things that were less familiar to us.
Leave your ego at the door
For those of you who have been to the training, “don’t be Pam.” Working in a JIC can be a stressful environment without adding inflated egos to the dynamic.
Everyone has the same goal… get the right information to the right people at the right time so they can make the right decisions.
Overall emergency goals of protecting life and preserving property are much better facilitated when everyone checks their ego at the door.
There are no bad ideas
During the first day or so of the class, everyone is still in the mode of familiarizing themselves with their classmates. Nobody wants to be the person who brings up an idea that elicits an eye roll! The instructors of the training quickly established the idea that there are no bad ideas. We were all learning and growing together and everyone was encouraged to participate.
Don’t only rely on social media
We are so engrained in social media as a way to reach our constituents. However, in an emergency situation, it’s not the only channel that needs attention. One of the presentations at the Utah PIO Association conference last year stressed this. Wildfires, rural populations, different languages and rapidly changing information can cause confusion and panic among citizens. During times of non-emergency, hone your skills on how to communicate with your audiences through all channels so you’re ready to go when an emergency strikes.
Write for a lower reading level
Every agency is full of acronyms that sometimes do not translate well outside of the agency. Remember that your audience may have language barriers or may read at a lower grade level. According to the Utah Department of Health, nearly 8% of adults in Utah operate at below a high school level. Nationally, this number is around 12%.
PIOs love karaoke
You haven’t truly lived until you’ve heard someone from the St. Louis Division of Water Quality sing Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” at karaoke night. #nailedit
Have you attended APIO 0388? What were your thoughts and takeaways?
Lisa Miller
APIO Graduate
April 28-May 4, 2019
Editor’s note:
How to apply for Advanced PIO
The course prerequisites list is lengthy and the application process can take quite a while. Classes fill up quickly so plan ahead.
Course description and prerequisites
Download the application form here
When all prerequisites are complete, fill out and sign the application, have your boss sign in the appropriate place and then send your course certificates and application to Kris Repp at krepp@utah.gov. She is the State Training Officer and forwards your application to FEMA.
Utah PIO Association 