ARRL Virtual Joint Information Center Activation

Tropical Storm Barry

11JUL19

 

 

Good afternoon,

 

Because of the emergence of Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico and the prospects of Barry strengthening to hurricane status, threatening the Gulf States with severe weather and flooding, the ARRL Public Relations Committee (PRC) has activated the ARRL Virtual Joint Information Center (VJIC).

 

The ARRL VJIC will connect ARRL Public Information Officers (PIOs) and ARRL Public Information Coordinators (PICs) during this possible widespread disaster. Partner PIOs are welcome to participate with our ARRL VJIC efforts. Also, ARRL Field Organizational personnel are also encouraged to participate, especially if a PIO/PIC is not available.

 

The ARRL VJIC will be hosted on the PRC Video Conference system, that allows both video and telephone connections. The ARRL VJIC will be monitored by the PRC today, Friday and over the weekend.

 

Specific goals of this activation are:

 

• Assistance to PIOs and PICs in the impacted area, including “Reach Back” assistance and support
• Sharing of storm related situational awareness between partners
• Collection of Amateur Radio related activities that are of interest to the ARRL and our partners, including the Red Cross and FEMA
• Practicing the Joint Information System

 

PIOs and PICs can log onto the system using the GoTo Meeting software (Instructions Below). Links to storm related Amateur Radio information and stories can be left in the chat box on the system, if the PRC monitor is unavailable.

 

Visitors to the ARRL VJIC are asked to “check in” via the system chat box. Please give your callsign, name, organization, and location when checking in.

 

Links and information for this event can also be shared via email to NewsMedia@ARRL.org and NH7C@ARRL.net.

 

If the Joint Information System is new to you, I have added a short brief to the end of this email for your review.

 

73,

 

Sid

 

Sid Caesar – NH7C

 

Chairman

Public Relations Committee

ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio®

NH7C@ARRL.net

Sid@NH7C.com

619.203.0705 Cell/Text

 

 

 

ARRL Virtual Joint Information Center

 

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone (Video and/or audio).
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/526414717

 

 

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3129

Access Code: 526-414-717

 

(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)

- One-touch: tel:+15713173129,,526414717#

 

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/526414717

 

 

 

Joint Information System Basics

 

Principle of Coordination and Integration

National Incident Management System (NIMS) public information is coordinated and integrated across jurisdictions and functional agencies; among Federal, State, local, and tribal partners; and with private-sector entities and nongovernmental organizations.

The Joint Information System is the structure for ensuring that PIO functions are coordinated and integrated.

 

Joint Information System

The Joint Information System (JIS):

• Provides the mechanism to organize, integrate, and coordinate information to ensure timely, accurate, accessible, and consistent messaging across multiple jurisdictions and/or disciplines with nongovernmental organizations and the private sector.
• Includes the plans, protocols, procedures, and structures used to provide public information.

Federal, State, tribal, territorial, regional, or local Public Information Officers and established Joint Information Centers (JICs) are critical supporting elements of the JIS.

 

Joint Information Center

The Joint Information Center (JIC) is:

• A central location that facilitates operation of the Joint Information System.
• A location where personnel with public information responsibilities perform critical emergency information functions, crisis communications, and public affairs functions.

JICs may be established at various levels of government or at incident sites, or can be components of Multiagency Coordination (MAC) Systems (e.g., MAC Groups or EOCs). A single JIC location is preferable, but the system is flexible and adaptable enough to accommodate virtual or multiple JIC locations, as required.

 

Voices of Experience

Melinda Kletzok: Depending on the incident a whole bunch of people can get involved. If it’s a flood you are going to be working with social service agencies, with the police, with fire, with the hospitals, with the gamut, so that’s why it’s so important to have an actual system because you get so many agencies involved depending on what your incident is.

Christopher Kramer: The public doesn’t want to see agencies argue and fight, they want to see a solid response effort that’s going to allow them to get back to their lives as quickly as possible and get back to their daily routines.

Jim Bunstock: I think it boils down to communication. It’s just like any other relationship: without good communication there is no singleness of purpose. You are working at cross purposes.

 

How the Joint Information System Operates

In an emergency, the JIS provides the mechanism for integrating public information activities to ensure coordinated and consistent message development, verification, and dissemination. The JIS can be:

• As simple as two PIOs talking on the phone about an incident that involves both of their agencies.
• A PIO at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) talking to a PIO at the site of the incident.
• PIOs from several departments working together at a single location.
• Many PIOs from many agencies working from several locations—all working together to ensure clear and accurate information is being delivered to the public.

 

Joint Information System (JIS): Speaking With One Voice

 

Coordinated and Consistent Messages

Through the JIS, PIOs are able to create coordinated and consistent messages by collaborating to:

• Identify key information that needs to be communicated to the public.
• Craft messages that convey key information, and are clear and easily understood.
• Prioritize messages to ensure timely delivery of information without overwhelming the audience.
• Verify accuracy of information through appropriate channels, including Incident Command and relevant agencies and program areas.
• Disseminate messages using the most effective means available.

 

Principle of Autonomy

The JIS also supports the third principle under the NIMS public information element. Organizations participating in incident management retain their autonomy.

The departments, agencies, organizations, or jurisdictions that contribute to the JIS do not lose their individual identities or responsibility for their own programs or policies.

 

Getting It Right

Simply stated, the public information mission during an incident is to get the right information to the right people at the right time so they can make the right decisions.

The JIS helps PIOs accomplish this mission by facilitating coordination. PIOs also follow specific strategies to avoid conflicting messages, such as:

• Focusing on one or two key messages.
• Using pre-scripted messages, as appropriate.
• Using talking points.
• Designating spokesperson(s) for media interviews.
• Speaking about one’s own program—not others’ programs.