PUBLIC INFORMATION
WASHINGTON COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
Updated:
February 26, 2004
(Local media outlets)
| I. |
PURPOSE |
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This section
describes the process for staffing, operating and maintaining a public
information system for emergency / disaster use. |
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| II. |
SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS |
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| A. |
Situation |
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| 1. |
The broadcast and
print media will be relied upon to assist in the dissemination of public
information to the general public. |
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| 2. |
The County Manager
and Emergency Management Coordinator have the capability to utilize the
Emergency Alerting System to deliver information to the public. |
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| 3. |
Washington County
may receive extensive media coverage during emergency / disaster
situations. |
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| 4. |
Scanner radios are
used extensively by residents of the county. This provides another
avenue for the delivery of emergency public information. |
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| 5. |
The Public
Information Officer for law enforcement will be the Sheriff or ranking
Officer on scene who may be assisted by the County PIO. |
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| 6. |
There is a small
group of non-English speaking people in the county, primarily Spanish
speaking migrant workers. |
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| B. |
Assumptions |
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| 1. |
The County Public
Information Officer (PIO) will likely be a designee of the County
Manager, as the need arises. |
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| 2. |
Special interest
groups in the county may disagree with official public information. |
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| 3. |
The public may
accept rumors, hearsay and half-truths as valid information which may
cause fear and confusion. |
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| 4. |
Local print and
broadcast media will cooperate in printing and broadcasting detailed
disaster-related instructions to the public. |
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| 5. |
Emergencies and
disasters which impact the County may generate interest to media sources
beyond the County and the State. |
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| 6. |
Law enforcement
officials will release their own information, particularly concerning
criminal activity. |
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| 7. |
Inquiries will be
received regarding the status of family members and missing or injured
persons. |
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| III. |
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS |
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| A. |
General |
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| 1. |
Information being
released to the general public and media will coordinated though the
Public Information Officer. |
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| 2. |
Public information
for law enforcement emergencies will be handled by the Sheriff or Chief
of Police with assistance from the County / Town PIO as necessary. |
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| 3. |
Ongoing public
education programs will be conducted to increase public awareness of the
following: |
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| a. | Potential hazards of the County | |||
| b. | Family preparedness | |||
| c. | Shelter locations | |||
| d. | Flood prone areas | |||
| e. | Evacuation routes | |||
| f. | Necessary action to be taken by the public | |||
| g. |
Emergency Management
function |
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| 4. |
The County Manager
or Emergency Management Coordinator must authorize the use of the
Emergency Alerting System (EAS). |
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| 5. |
The National Weather
Service will issue weather watches or warnings directly to Central
Communications and to the media for public release. For Washington
County, the Newport NWS is responsible for severe weather warnings. |
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| 6. |
During emergencies /
disasters, Control Group decisions and general information advisories
are prepared on a timely basis and released to the media and / or the
general public. |
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| 7. |
Action will be taken
to correct identified errors in information released by the media, or
rumors about the emergency situation. |
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| 8. |
Hard copy news
releases are disseminated to the media and appropriate County and / or
Town officials. The Division of Emergency Management State EOC and the
Eastern Branch Office will be faxed news releases as appropriate. |
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| 9. |
Washington County
will practice an aggressive approach for the dissemination of
information to isolated and non-English speaking populations during and
following emergency events. |
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| 10. |
The magnitude of the
disaster may require innovative means of communications to inform the
public, for example, aircraft banners, balloons and billboards. |
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| 11. |
Content of all news
releases will be cleared through the Public Information Officer before
release to the media and the public. |
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| B. |
Specific |
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| 1. |
Inquiries concerning
the status of individuals deceased or missing due to an emergency /
disaster event will be referred to the chief law enforcement officer of
the affected jurisdiction. |
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| 2. | Inquiries regarding injured persons will be referred to the designated hospital. | |||
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Appendix 1
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NEWSPAPER |