Some counties have developed local networks of communications professionals that meet on a regular basis. There is also a regional Public Information Working Group.
These collaborative groups have accomplished some great projects! Regional PIO Working Group developed a Concept of Operations document for multi-county incident response collaboration. The development and maintenance of the Public Alerts Website. Washington County developed pre-scripted information regarding emerging threats. Clackamas County created pre-approval agreements between agencies, enabling PIOs to respond in support, and assist immediately.
Until recently, Multnomah County's communications professionals were not getting together...Thanks to Laura Conroy - we hosted our first meeting on Sept 12th! During this meeting, DRAFT Goals were formed and have since been merged with additional goals provided by membership:
GOALS
Provide timely, accurate, accessible, understandable information for the communities we serve.
Create/provide equitable communications and community engagement.
Enhance and strengthen Multnomah County specific connections between professional communicators.
Improve coordination, reduce duplication, and increase effectiveness, reach, and efficiency.
Leverage connections to discover and engage in shared projects.
Continually improve service to community
Create/Enhance response ready bench strength across Multnomah County (JIC/JIS staffing, outreach, VOST, etc)
Ensure all partners are included in preparedness and response.
Leverage existing diverse communications networks to amplify messages. Understand available cross-sector channels for messaging.
Leverage lessons learned and research findings to create and follow best practices.
Build skills and strengthen organizations/agencies capabilities.
Connect with, and deepen understanding of, communication Technology (StarRunner, Satellite, ARES, Radios, Packet, etc)
Our next meeting is March 13 at at 1000 hrs (10:00 am) we are securing a location and will update our calendar invite as soon as it is secured. This survey will help us finalize our goals and round out our projects list. Please review the Goals and Projects. We will incorporate your feedback and additions into a final draft.
Don't see your project listed? Help us better coordinate by providing information regarding projects that are on your list! Either your wish list - or to do list :) During our March 13th meeting we will map projects with Points of Contact, participants, and timelines.
PROJECTS
Coordinate calendaring, topics, and activities/projects with Regional PIO group.
Include members in monthly Emergency Management E-Newsletter (with links to training and exercise calendars).
Create a catalogue of agency assets (who can help/coordinate communications during response and recovery). Include each agency's: channels, audience, prerequisites for use, and point of contact.
Make Point-of-Contact connections across agencies.
Maintain accurate contact list/roster that is easily accessible to all members.
Develop online meeting platform (eg. WebEx, creating Bios, creating online discussion forum for problems of practice, questions, etc).
Develop a Multnomah County VOST - Virtual Operations Support Team
Develop SOP for Emergency Support Function 14, Public Information and Warning Annex. Include job aids for JIC/JIS positions.
Training how to assist in JIC (documenting chronology of incident for After Action Report, thank you letters, annive