HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-069N EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION #14
PUBLIC INFORMATION
PRIMARY AGENCY: Indian River County Department of Emergency Services/
Emergency Management Division
SUPPORT AGENCIES: City of Vero Beach Customer Services Dept.
Indian River County Department of Emergency Services/
Fire Rescue Division
Indian River County Property Appraiser's Office
Indian River County Health Department
Indian River County Sheriffs Office
North Treasure Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Purpose
The timely distribution of accurate information and instructions from the
Indian River County EOC to the public prior to, during, and following a
disaster is essential for the health, safety, and welfare of people in the
impacted areas. The purpose of this ESF is to establish a mechanism that
efficiently provides and disseminates information to the general public in the
event of a disaster.
B. Scope
There is an estimated 2010 population of approximately 138,028 residents in
Indian River County. It is Indian River County government's responsibility to
alert and inform these people in a timely manner before, during, and after a
disaster. This ESF applies to natural or manmade disasters.
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-1
II. POLICIES
ESF #14 will:
A. Coordinate with all ESFs, rumor control members, public agencies and
private relief agencies, the receiving and dissemination of all information
concerning specific disasters, their associated threats, and protective actions
to the news media and general public.
B. Provide a central point that would allow the news media and general public to
access information concerning protective actions taken.
C. Establish a format for managing and staffing of public information telephone
lines before, during and after a disaster.
D. Release public information concerning needed volunteer goods and services.
E. Coordinate the release of all information through the Director of Emergency
Services, or his designee.
F. Inquiries from families on the status of individuals who are missing will be
referred to the American Red Cross and ARES (amateur radio). Inquiries
from families on the status of individuals who are injured will be referred to
ESF #16 (Law Enforcement).
III. SITUATION
A. Disaster Condition
A significant natural disaster, emergency condition or other incident will be of
such a magnitude that the means of dispersing public information in the
disaster area may be severely affected or cease to function. Outside the
disaster area, the demand for information concerning the disaster will be
overwhelming.
B. Planning Assumptions
1. Extensive destruction of media communications facilities and loss of
electrical power may severely disrupt the normal flow and dispersal of
information in the disaster area.
2. The demand for public information in the disaster area may exceed
the capability of the local government to provide service. Additional
support may be requested.
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-2
3. In the aftermath of disaster, information is usually erroneous, vague,
difficult to confirm, and contradictory.
4. In the aftermath of a disaster, there will be significant demand to know
what volunteer resources are needed.
5. Public information staff deployed to a disaster area need to be
virtually self-sufficient.
IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A. General
The EOC will be on a 24-hour staffing pattern to facilitate the flow of public
information. When the EOC is activated, the PIO will be notified and alerted
of impending PI operations.
Depending on the severity of the disaster, staff may operate a 24-hour public
information line to handle citizens' inquiries. All ESF's should regularly
provide information to ESF#14 to keep the citizens aware of current events.
B. Organization
During a disaster, the EOC will act as the central coordinating facility for
receiving and dissemination of public information. Information flow to the
EOC will occur directly from news media reports and citizen public
information phone calls.
Information will flow from the EOC in the form of media briefings, press
releases, and situation reports. Information will also flow from ESF 14 to
public information personnel in the local EOC.
C. Notification
The IRCDEM will provide notification for each ESF's primary agency. A
representative from the primary agency will in turn notify each support
agency and/or volunteer agency, as required.
D. Media
1. The Media Center of the Emergency Operations Center has been
identified as the location for the mass media to gather. This site has
also been designated as a potential area for the establishment of a
local Citizens Information Center(CIC)and a Joint Information Center
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-3
(JIC). Regularly scheduled press conferences will be established
during an event. The information to be disseminated may include, but
not be limited to, the following:
a. identification of vulnerable areas for each hazard;
b. pre-disaster measures to alleviate loss;
C. preparedness tips;
d. response information, especially evacuation and sheltering;
e. recovery information, where to go and who to contact for
assistance; and
f. information on what to bring to a shelter.
2. The following radio and television stations have agreed to
disseminate emergency information and participate in the local public
emergency notification system in accordance with the Region 10
Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan:
a. RADIO STATIONS
(1) WTTB 1490 AM
(2) WGYL 93.7 FM
(3) WQCS 89.9 FM
(4) WSCF 91.9 FM
(5) WZZR 92.7 FM
(6) WAVW 101.7 FM
(7) WAXE 1370 AM
(8) WQOL 103.7 FM
b. TELEVISION STATIONS
(1) WPTV (NBC) Channel 5
(2) WPEC (CBS) Channel 12
(3) WPBF (ABC) Channel 25
(4) WFLX (FOX) Channel 29
(5) WTVX (UPN) Channel 34
3. Public information phone lines will be inaugurated for receiving and
disseminating information from public agencies, private relief
organizations and members of the public. All information will be
closely coordinated by the PIO. A booklet on EOC general office
operating procedures will be distributed to each rumor control
member.
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-4
4. Public Awareness and Education
In order to better educate and inform the public of protective actions
before disaster occurs, public information is critical for saving lives
and minimizing property damage. Certain responsibilities exist for
public information when Emergency Management plans are
implemented. Public actions may depend upon public information
during the period before a disaster is imminent, in an actual or
threatening emergency situation, and in the post-emergency recovery
period.
Pre-disaster education programs serve to increase awareness of
Emergency Management programs, educate the public on ways to
protect life and property, and inform the public on the availability of
further assistance and information. Our office maintains an on-going
effort to provide public education programs throughout the year. The
following components serve as an example of our on-going public
awareness and education efforts:
a. A booklet entitled Official Disaster Preparedness Guide for
Indian River County is published each year (English and
Spanish) and provides maps, zones, and other types of
disaster preparedness information, to include high risk areas
and evacuation routes. The booklets are distributed at public
presentations, and are available at various locations
throughout the county as well as the office of Emergency
Management.
b. During an emergency, our office telephones will be staffed on
a 24-hour basis until the emergency has been abated. The
advertised telephone number for our office is (772) 567-2154.
In addition to this main phone line, additional phone lines will
be established with the numbers broadcasted through the local
media. For a 24-hour recorded weather update, citizens may
call (772) 567-2129.
C. During any period of disaster in Indian River County, the
government access cable channel will be broadcasting live
from our Emergency Operations Center. This capability will
extend the Emergency Management's public outreach
capabilities both in response to and recovery from a disaster,
including information on where to go and who to call for
assistance. Cable channel 27 will be the activated channel.
Protective action information will be broadcast as necessary.
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-5
e. Indian River County currently has fourteen public shelters, two
of which are dedicated specialty shelters; one pet friendly
shelter and one special needs shelter. Since all shelters will
not open at the same time, it is crucial for the public to monitor
media reports for an opening in their area. Depending on the
storm track and intensity, the number and location of shelter
openings will vary. At a minimum, shelters will open in the
north, central and south county area. Public shelter openings
will be broadcast via local radio stations,television stations and
the government access channels listed above.
f. Evacuation information, along with routes, is published
annually in the Vero Beach telephone directory, as well as in a
hurricane preparedness supplement issued by the Press
Journal just prior to each hurricane season.
5. Public Safety Announcements have been developed and are
available to the PIO. These pre-scripted messages are maintained on
file at the IRCDEM.
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-6
6. In July of 1989, the Indian River County Department of Emergency
Services formed a committee to address people within Indian River
County with Special Medical Needs. Since then, the goal of the
Special Needs Shelter Program is to provide a safe place for persons
requiring medical assistance to temporarily shelter during an
evacuation from either a man-made or natural disaster, rather than
inundating local hospitals with a large number of people that a
specially equipped and staffed shelter could adequately handle.
Information to residents who may require special assistance in the
event of a disaster is dispensed via the following avenues:
a. Home health care agencies;
b. Physicians' offices;
C. Visiting Nurses Association/Hospice;
d. Press release campaigns throughout the year;
e. Senior Resource Associate, Inc.; and
f. Public outreach programs (radio/TV talk show interviews,
hurricane presentations, etc.).
7. While it is uncertain how many deaf or hearing impaired residents are
in Indian River County, our office is prepared to handle these calls
through the use of a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf(TDD).
A TDD is a machine that can be connected to the telephone providing
deaf and hard-of-hearing people with a way to use a telephone
without an interpreter. TDD users type their messages on a standard
typewriter keyboard which is read on a display by the receiver using
compatible equipment. The Indian River County Department of
Emergency Services' TDD telephone number is published in the
BellSouth Text Telephone Directory annually. The County
switchboard is also equipped with TDD equipment, thus facilitating a
transfer of a caller, if necessary.
In order to broaden our capabilities with speaking with the non-English
speaking communities of Indian River County, we subscribe to AT&T
Language Line. They are the world's largest provider of 24-hour over-
the-phone interpretation. In addition, we have several local residents
who have offered their interpreter services. Either of these services
would be available to non-English speaking callers. Additionally,
public service announcements are also broadcast in Spanish.
8. There are approximately seventy mobile home/recreational vehicle
parks located within Indian River County. This figure equates to 6,502
dwellings, or a population of approximately 13,546 (10% of the total
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-7
population). To ensure the safety and well being of mobile home
residents during hurricane conditions, these communities would be
amongst the first to be issued an evacuation order. All public
outreach programs to these residents stress their vulnerability and
need to evacuate. A current roster indicating the location and number
of residents for each mobile home park is maintained on file at the
IRCDEM.
E. Response Actions
1. Initial Actions
ESF #14 will:
a. Staff the EOC as needed.
b. (The Emergency Management Director, or his designee) Will
serve as Public Information Officer.
C. Brief the media spokesperson.
d. Establish an initial press briefing.
e. Establish rumor control lines in order to handle phone inquiries
from individuals attempting to contact the EOC for information.
2. Continuing Actions
ESF #14 will:
a. Continue to provide updates to the news media concerning
disaster conditions and actions taken pursuant to those
conditions.
b. Regularly disseminate information from summary reports to the
news media.
C. Continue to staff rumor control lines.
d. Continue to coordinate with ESF #15 (Volunteers and
Donations)to provide public information concerning what types
of volunteer services are required.
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-8
E. Recovery Actions
1 Initial Actions
ESF #14 will:
a. Staff the public information function of the Disaster Field
Office.
b. Brief and instruct media spokesperson for damage
assessment teams.
C. Coordinate with ESF #15 (Volunteer and Donations) to
determine what volunteer goods and services are most needed
in the disaster area.
2. Continuing Actions
Same as response actions.
V. RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Primary Agency
The Department of Emergency Services, Emergency Management Division
is responsible for the dissemination of emergency information to the general
public during disasters, particularly during non-catastrophic disasters. The
Emergency Management Director, or his designee, will serve as Public
Information Officer. The agency will provide updated information to the news
media in the form of press briefings, situation reports, news releases, or
emergency broadcast announcements.
B. Support Agencies
1. City of Vero Beach Customer Services Department- Will coordinate
all City of Vero Beach public information matters with ESF#14 at the
EOC.
2. Indian River County Department of Emergency Services/Fire Rescue
Division - Will have trained individuals available to serve as a Public
Information Officer, if requested.
3. Indian River County Property Appraiser's Office -Will coordinate the
dissemination of public information regarding damage assessment.
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-9
4. Indian River County Health Department - Will coordinate the
dissemination of public information regarding public health issues.
5. Indian River County Sheriffs Office - Will have trained individuals
available to serve as a Public Information Officer and will coordinate
the dissemination of public information regarding law enforcement
issues (i.e., traffic conditions, road closures, curfews, alcohol bans,
etc.).
6. North Treasure Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross - Will
coordinate the dissemination of public information regarding activation
of shelters and recovery information (i.e., how to access disaster
assistance programs, bulk food and ice, etc.).
VI. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ESF#14 will utilize personnel and resources from its primary and support agencies
to respond to mission assignments related to emergencies. Additional resources
available at other ESFs may be coordinated and mobilized to support ESF #14
missions. When requests begin to exceed the County's ESF's capability to respond,
additional resources (i.e., state teams, federal agencies, contractual agreements,
and mutual aid agreements) will be mobilized. Mutual aid agreements have been
established for all contiguous counties as well as the existence of the Statewide
Mutual Aid Agreement. During a significant event these agreements may be
activated. The decision to activate these agreements will be made by the
Emergency Management Director, or his designee. All personnel and resources
mobilized by ESF#14 will remain under the direction and control of the ESF, unless
otherwise notified.
Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#14-10