The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) announces the release of the second of three new courses for Public Information Officers.

These courses were developed in partnership with the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and the National Information Officer Association (NIOA)

Rationale:
As an incident expands in complexity, often multiple agencies, departments, and jurisdictions may be integrated into incident management activities both at the command and coordination levels. In a multiagency response, several PIOs may be assigned to the incident, requiring increased coordination.

The National Incident Management System (NIMS), based on best practices, recommends that responders establish a Joint Information System (JIS) and if necessary a Joint Information Center (JIC). The JIC is a central location that facilitates operation of the JIS.

Course Goal:
This training will:

• Equip PIOs with the skills needed to establish and operate a JIS/JIC.
• Impart a working knowledge of operational practices for performing PIO duties within the NIMS multiagency coordination system.

Target Audience:
The primary audience for this training is individuals who have public information responsibilities as their main job or as an auxiliary function at the State, tribal, or local level of government.

Course Objectives:

• Describe the JIS approach to managing information.
• Assess current management practices and capabilities to organize and lead a local JIC.
• Identify organizational structures and resources to facilitate operations with State and Federal JIC partners.
• Given a scenario, organize and operate a JIC.

Course Strategy:
The 1-day JIS/JIC Planning for Tribal, State, and Local PIOs course will use interactive presentation to convey information and engage the participants in learning. Participants will complete a number of worksheets assessing jurisdictional JIS/JIC readiness and facilitating planning for JIS/JIC implementation.

This course will be delivered at the State level by State and local instructors.

• Identify communication challenges that PIOs may face in an emergency.
• Describe and differentiate between the JIS and the JIC.

• Describe triggers for JIC activation.
• Relate the information management cycle to roles and functions that are common components of a JIC.
• Describe flexible and scalable structures for organizing a JIC based on incident needs.
• Identify best practices for managing JIC functions.

• Describe circumstances when State and Federal partners might be integrated into the JIS/JIC.
• Describe the State JIC organizational structures and resources.
• Describe the Federal ESF #15 organizational structures and resources.
• Identify strategies for building partnerships at all levels.

• Given a scenario, organize and operate a JIC.

Unit 6: Course Summary (40 minutes)

EMI Point of Contact:
For more information on this course, contact your FEMA Regional Training Officer or the EMI Course Manager, Phil Politano: (301)447-1343 philip.politano@dhs.gov