The National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) devote significant attention to the importance of emergency public information. Public information is one-third of one-fifth of NIMS under Command and Management, placing public information at the same level as the Incident Command System (ICS).

With public information included as a function within NIMS and ICS, it is critical to address and provide training for this important element of emergency management.

EMI's Public Information Officer (PIO) training curriculum includes courses delivered at the awareness, basic, intermediate, advanced and master levels. The awareness, basic and intermediate level courses were developed by EMI and are managed by state emergency management trainers who teach basic skills and techniques for use during small, localized, single-agency responses; preparedness campaigns; and escalating localized responses.

The advanced level course is the fourth in the public information training series. It teaches participants additional skills for use during escalating incidents, including strategic communications and incident action planning as it relates to Joint Information Center (JIC) operations.

The goal of this course is to:

• Provide participants with the knowledge and skills to establish, manage and work within a JIC through multimedia lectures and individual and group activities.
• Provide participants the opportunity to apply advanced public information skills during a multi-day functional exercise (FE) designed to test the participants¿ abilities to analyze, coordinate, process and create information in a fast-paced, realistic environment.
• Through a tabletop exercise (TTX), encourage participants to evaluate their processes to help them generate new ideas, products, or ways of viewing challenges or situations.
• Encourage participants to improve their processes and ensure every action has a measurable relevance for each identified audience, including senior leadership.

The learner must achieve a minimum passing score of 75% on final knowledge assessments or demonstrate mastery on performance assessments or research assignments to earn the IACET CEU.

Selection Criteria: Full-time public information personnel who have completed the prerequisites.

• Participants must have a minimum of 2 full years of full-time public information experience
• Students who have not attended this training in the previous five years may also apply.