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Unlike other perils, wildfires can last for weeks on end, requiring a constant stream of communications that often exhausts local resources. Effective public outreach requires sound planning and coordination with surrounding localities, state agencies and local media outlets.

Use these tips from subject matter experts to prepare for and improve public outreach on wildfires before, during and after events.

Focus on messaging before the wildfire season.

• Explore the U.S. Fire Administration’s public outreach materials to develop your own public safety announcements and awareness campaigns.
• Encourage residents to get their homes and property ready, and to take ownership of being prepared and having a plan.

Develop pre-scripted messages and store them in the cloud to be accessed anywhere, anytime.

• Organize and label messages clearly so you can quickly pull specific messages during an emergency. Dropping successful social media messages and scripts from past events into a Google Drive document is an easy way to start.

Don’t forget about non-English speaking populations.

• Have a plan for communicating with limited English populations (LEPs); consider developing a guide that identifies where LEP’s are located in your community, what critical information will need to reach them and who will help you communicate with them. If nothing else, have a list of contact numbers for nearby translators of different languages.

Ask the state for social media assistance if needed.

• The state can help amplify your communications efforts by sharing your messages on their social media accounts. Have a plan for how this will work ahead of time so you don’t have to figure out who to call and how to make it happen during an event.

Consider using local volunteers to take calls in a joint information center (JIC).

• Local volunteers are familiar with the area and often know the callers, allowing them to provide a familiar, comforting voice. Involving residents in disaster response can make them feel empowered while fulfilling their desire to help others.

Hold public meetings and recovery fairs.

• Community meetings allow residents to hear from their emergency management team and voice their concerns. Recovery fairs serve as a one-stop-shop for recovery assistance.
• Consider inviting representatives from local utilities and insurance agencies, the state, FEMA, the American Red Cross (ARC) and other relevant agencies to both types of public forums.

Set realistic perceptions of FEMA early.

• Community members who incur damage or losses often think FEMA or the state will write them a check to fix everything. Unreasonable expectations can lead to frustration when aid doesn’t add up to cover their losses. Make it clear that FEMA’s role is not to make them whole again.
• Set expectations before disasters strike or at the outset of recovery to avoid taking the blame.

Coordinate with local amateur radio organizations to create a radio communications plan.

• Invite local amateur radio organizations into your training exercises and build a relationship before a disaster hits.
• Integrate their emergency operations plan (EOP) into yours and consider giving them space in your emergency operations center (EOC).
• Amateur Radio organizations exist across the country, find yours in the American Radio Relay League’s (ARRL) membership database.