Download this fillable Activity Log (ICS 214) from the to record details of notable activities at any ICS level, including single resources, equipment, task forces and more. The logs provide basic incident activity documentation and a reference for any . Completed logs are submitted to supervisors, who forward them to the documentation unit. FEMA… Read more
This Issue Brief presents background on communications within the and its Incident Command System (ICS). It examines the role of communications within these constructs, as well as in the context of multiagency response to disasters and emergencies. It concludes with operational best practices for effective use of incident communications units. Communications in the Incident… Read more
At the conclusion of an event, there is a need to assess how the emergency response has been conducted through the pre-deployment, deployment and post-deployment phases and to identify ways to improve during each of these periods. Follow this guide from the program to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement in emergency response to… Read more
Following a disaster, a governor requests preliminary damage assessments (PDAs) as the first step in the declaration process. Federal representatives, including the U.S. Small Business Administration, join state, tribal, and local officials to form “PDA teams” responsible for surveying damages in designated counties by going city-by-city, street-by-street, door-to-door, until impacted areas identified by state and… Read more
Ready New York: Reduce Your Risk outlines steps New York City property owners can take to prepare through — cost-effective and sustained actions taken to reduce the long-term risk to human life or property from hazards. The guide covers preparation for all types of perils that can impact New York City and identifies additional resources.… Read more
At the scene of an incident, the news media’s most basic needs are access to information and images. Use these tips from FEMA to help anticipate what the media will want and to setup a media staging area that enhances communications to help guide information flow between the public information officer (PIO) and the media. … Read more
This course covers basic information about the role of a State or local Public Information Officer. The goal of this awareness course is to provide an orientation to the public information function and the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the public safety/emergency management environment. Use this link to take the interactive web-based… Read more
Communicating with the public is one of the most important aspects of disaster response and recovery planning, yet in the wake of disaster public communications often get overlooked for the sake of getting other essential tasks completed. Make sure you have enough Public Information Officers (PIO) trained and on hand to keep residents and… Read more
One of the public information officer’s (PIO) essential functions is to handle media requests and communications, preventing them from distracting the incident commander. Use these tips to prepare for and respond effectively to the media. Have media contact lists. Develop a media contact list with after-business hours contact information, email addresses and websites. Have multiple,… Read more
Use this document from FEMA to find contact information for your regional FEMA Office, NFIP State Coordinating Agency and State Hazard Mitigation Office. Reach out to your contacts before a disaster hits; the first time you exchange business cards should not be during a disaster. FEMA Regional Offices, NFIP State Coordinating Agencies and State… Read more
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