Green County Emergency Response Plan Emergency Support Function (ESF) #15 Public Information LEAD COORDINATING AGENCY: Green County Emergency Management SUPPORT AGENCIES: Green County Sheriff’s Office Municipal Police Departments Elected Officials State Agencies: Wisconsin Emergency Management Other State Agencies as needed for the disaster Federal Agencies: Department of Homeland Security I. Introduction A. Purpose To ensure effective dissemination of emergency information and instructions to the public before, during, and after an emergency or disaster. B. Scope 1. This ESF addresses responsibilities to process, coordinate, and disseminate information for Green County, County officials, and response agencies. 2. A significant emergency will involve many county and local agencies’ media organizations. ESF #15 assistance will be provided as requested II. Policies A. It is essential that accurate, timely and consistent information be disseminated to the public during emergencies (small or large). County departments, offices and local jurisdictions will coordinate the development and dissemination of all disaster related public information through the head public information officer at the EOC or Joint Information Center. After the EOC is closed the Green County Emergency Management Director will have the primary responsibility for the coordination of public information activities. B. The State may start an emergency public information operation to augment or enhance local jurisdiction capability or when requested by county/local emergency management agency C. The Governor’s Office has lead responsibility as the official spokesperson for state public information activities. State Public Information Officers will coordinate and provide timely information to the Governor’s press office. Green County ERP ESF #15 Page 1 Reviewed March 2021 Green County Emergency Response Plan III. Concept of Operation A. General 1. Upon notification, Green County Public Information Officer (PIO) will be advised as to where to report to. The PIO’s primary responsibility will be to coordinate and disseminate accurate and timely disaster-related information. 2. The County PIO or another designated PIO will work with emergency management staff, whether or not the EOC is activated, to issue appropriate press releases, situation reports and conduct media interviews. 3. The County PIO will coordinate working with the Officer in Charge to ensure there is appropriate PIO staffing. 4. Initiate rumor control procedures by monitoring media sources, as appropriate. B. Organization 1. The need for rapid dissemination of essential information during an emergency necessitates the activation of a joint public information system. This system will be coordinated by the PIO within the EOC or Command Post on scene. The nature of the emergency and the level of needed activation will define the extent to which this system is engaged. The state supports local efforts by coordinating the release of information with federal, county, volunteer and private entities. 2. Green County operates under the Incident Command System ESF #15 operates as the Information Unit as the Incident Command System). 3. ESF #15 coordinates with Wisconsin Emergency Management, as well as local units of government, including sharing press releases, briefings, etc. C. Phases of Emergency Management The following activities will be performed by county agencies and private organizations as appropriate. 1. Mitigation and Preparedness Activities a. Personnel with supervisory, command level responsibility or who may be working in the EOC from county agencies, municipalities, villages and cities, should registered on WebEOC and request permission to access the Green County site. Green County’s site contains the emergency response plan, and other pertinent documents which can be downloaded. EOC activities can be documented on this secure system and WEM may require state assets to be requested through WebEOC. b. Participate in exercises and trainings, such as Incident Command and other specialized training to support ESF #15 and the Green County Emergency Response Plan for the purpose of developing and testing abilities to ensure effective response to various types of emergencies. c. Provide public education programs (i.e., personal preparedness). Green County ERP ESF #15 Page 2 Reviewed March 2021 Green County Emergency Response Plan d. Identify emergency support function-specific training requirements. e. Identify locations for media briefings. f. County, local, and private organizations should attend a WEM public information course. g. Develop and maintain a roster of ESF #15 personnel, including shift change and staffing procedures, address, telephone, cellular, facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses. h. Develop equipment lists i. Develop and maintain an accurate media contact list. j. Develop procedures for rumor control inquiries. k. Coordinate and maintain a working relationship with the media. l. Establish and maintain Emergency Management website, Facebook and twitter accounts. 2. Response Activities a. In accordance with ESF #5, Emergency Management, primary and support agencies shall designate a qualified representative in the Command Post/EOC or other designated location as deemed appropriate. Volunteer and private agencies should also be prepared to assign qualified representatives if requested to do so. b. Assess the scope, magnitude, extent and the potential duration of the incident. c. Request ESF #15 Support PIOs based on incident assessment. d. Obtain a status report on all local and county activities, as needed. e. Collect information concerning ESF field operations and activities. f. Coordinate with EOC (OIC/Operations Officer), ESF agencies and state/federal/private organizations to develop a flow of information, including situation reports, health advisories and other public information releases concerning the response and recovery efforts. g. Attend briefings and gather information for situation updates. h. Document and maintain a record of incoming and outgoing communications. i. Establish and operate a Joint Information Center (JIC) when appropriate. If a JIC is activated, send an ESF #15 representative to that location, if appropriate. j. Establish contact with the pertinent elected officials representing the affected area to provide information on the incident. Green County ERP ESF #15 Page 3 Reviewed March 2021 Green County Emergency Response Plan k. Conduct media briefings on a regular basis. l. Monitor media/Facebook/Twitter and implement rumor control process when appropriate. m. EOC/OIC will coordinate with Lead PIO before deactivating the ESF #15. n. Inform the Wisconsin Emergency Management PIO of response activities. o. If needed, request activation of EAS/NOAA radio systems as well as local cable television overrides. p. Regularly update the Green County Emergency Management website (www.greencountyem.com) and Facebook pages. 3. Recovery Activities a. Coordinate with appropriate agencies to deactivate the JIC if activated. b. Disseminate information on recovery programs or available disaster assistance programs available. c. Keep elected officials informed of recovery activities. d. EOC/OIC will coordinate with Lead PIO before deactivating the ESF# 15. e. Continue to regularly update the Green County Emergency Management website (www.greencountyem.com) and Facebook pages. f. Continue monitoring media/Facebook/twitter and implement rumor control process when appropriate. IV. Responsibilities A. All Agencies 1. All agencies (including volunteer) will operate under NIMS and the Incident Command System. Agencies are responsible to ensure personnel are properly trained in ICS and EOC operations. All agencies will use plain language – no ten codes. 2. All agencies shall conduct an assessment of damage to their systems and report them immediately to the EOC and assist in recovery activities as requested. 3. All agencies providing services to the emergency/disaster shall participate in an after action review. These agencies should also review and make any necessary updates/improvements to their emergency plans and to the county’s emergency response plans. 4. All agencies responding the emergency/disaster will document all costs associated with response and recovery activities (separate from normal, daily work) and provide these reports regularly/as requested to the EOC/Green County Emergency Management. This documentation should begin immediately after notification to respond the emergency/disaster. Green County ERP ESF #15 Page 4 Reviewed March 2021 Green County Emergency Response Plan B. Lead Coordinating Agency Green County Emergency Management 1. Designate appropriate or designated public affairs staff person to serve as the County PIO to coordinate all county public information. 2. Prepare and disseminate emergency information and official news releases in conjunction with the PIO. 3. Provide adequate training for the PIO and support staff 4. Assess the public affairs implications of the incident. Support the Green County Chair with disseminating emergency public information. 5. Assist the affected municipality with the release of public information. 6. Plan and coordinate with the local news media to ensure assistance in disseminating emergency information and instructions in conjunction with the Public Information Officer. 7. Coordinate with State and Federal agencies on the release of emergency information and instructions, as appropriate. 8. Provide facilities where