Public Information in an All-Hazards Incident

MGT318 – 16.00 Hours

Schedule

Details Buttons Dates Location Class Price Register Buttons
10/09/24 – 10/10/24 Tanner, AL FP MGT318 361 Register
10/22/24 – 10/23/24 Fort Collins, CO FP MGT318 371 Register
10/29/24 – 10/30/24 Pickerington, OH FP MGT318 374 Register
11/06/24 – 11/07/24 Laredo, TX FP MGT318 379 Register
11/20/24 – 11/21/24 El Centro, CA FP MGT318 373 Register
12/04/24 – 12/05/24 Bridgeton, NJ FP MGT318 377 Register
12/10/24 – 12/11/24 Everett, WA FP MGT318 360 Register
12/17/24 – 12/18/24 Manheim, PA FP MGT318 376 Register
01/08/25 – 01/09/25 East Greenwich, RI FP MGT318 383 Register
01/22/25 – 01/23/25 Niantic, CT FP MGT318 387 Register
01/29/25 – 01/30/25 Chicago, IL FP MGT318 378 Register
02/18/25 – 02/19/25 San Diego, CA FP MGT318 380 Register
02/26/25 – 02/27/25 Columbus, OH FP MGT318 381 Register
03/05/25 – 03/06/25 Dover, DE FP MGT318 384 Register
03/18/25 – 03/19/25 Cape Girardeau, MO FP MGT318 388 Register
03/25/25 – 03/26/25 Flagstaff, AZ FP MGT318 389 Register
04/29/25 – 04/30/25 Newark, CA FP MGT318 386 Register

This schedule is subject to change without notice. If you have not received confirmation of the class prior to the class start, please contact the division at (866) 878-8900 or [email protected] to get the latest schedule.

Course Description

This course examines the role of public information in all-hazards incident management and provides practical training in crisis communication techniques.  In a major incident, it is imperative that community leaders, incident managers, and Public Information Officers (PIOs) are prepared to communicate with the public through traditional and social media. The course consists of three modules.

The first module reviews the topics of terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), national response structures, incident management, and government and agency roles.  Participants learn about the passing of information to the public in WMD terrorism, or other all-hazards incident and the function of joint information operations.

The second module covers issues unique to interacting with members of the media to help you build more effective relationships and avoid common mistakes when providing information to the press and public. The module includes a mock press conference exercise in which the class is broken into groups to prepare for and conduct press conference exercise in which the class is broken into groups to prepare for and conduct press conferences based on fictional WMD, terrorism and all-hazards incident scenarios.  These scenarios are taken from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Planning Scenarios.

The third module introduces the crisis communication life cycle and crisis communication planning.  A six-phase cycle is discussed, with public information objectives and key actions for managing each phase provided.  Participants learn how to create a crisis communication plan and develope a crisis communication team to execute it.  

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Course Completion Requirements

Participants are required to score a 70% or better on the Post-Test to receive a course certificate of completion.

Participants will need access to a laptop or mobile device/tablet during the course to complete course testing and evaluations electronically.

Participants Must Provide

  • A FEMA SID is required to register for and participate in any training provided by FEMA.  The FEMA SID will serve as your unique identifier and be used to maintain the record of DEMA trainings you attended.
  • Register for a FEMA SID at:
  • A photo identification on the first day of class. See the Participant Handbook for approved forms of identification and additional guidelines.

Attendance Requirements

Class attendance is an essential part of the education process and part of the education process and participants in TEEX courses are expected to attend a minimum of 80 % of the class hours as a component of sucessful course completion.

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

  • Design a Joint Information Center (JIC) using National Incident Management System (NIMS) guidance.
  • Explain the need to establish relationships with the public and the methods to effectively communicate with them.
  • Investigate the role social media plays in disseminating information and the potential it holds for facilitating disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts.
  • Communicate effective public information and warning messages.
  • Create public information messages for different phases of the crisis communication life cycle in accordance with the Crisis Communications Plan (CCP).

Suggested Audience

Personnel serving in all emergency response disciplines within a jurisdiction and individuals whose duties may require them to interface with news media representatives during their community’s response to a major incident, including:

  • Jurisdiction’s key elected and appointed officials
  • Public Information Officers (PIOs)
  • Key department heads
  • Key public health and medical personnel
  • First responders
  • Emergency management officials from both the public and private sectors
  • Other key officials whose position might require them to communicate with the press or public in an emergency situation

Continuing Education And Professional Credits

Note: Live Online Instructor-Led (webinar) courses are not eligible for TCOLE credit.

  • Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)
  • American Council on Education (ACE)

Other Information

DHS/FEMA information

This workshop is fully funded through DHS/FEMA and comes at no direct cost to the jurisdiction. It is delivered at a time and place requested by the jurisdiction.

Course size

30 – 35 participants

Recommended

MGT-312 Senior Officials Workshop for All-Hazards Preparedness

IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System

Government Programs

  • GSA contract number: GS-07F-0357V. GSA customers, to register please contact [email protected] or call (866) 878-8900. GSA Schedule logo
  • For DHS/FEMA Funded Courses, please contact [email protected] or call (866) 878-8900