Building Resiliency Under Pressure: Emergency Communication in the Age of Distrust

The Public Information Officer (PIO) role has evolved from a messenger to a vital architect of community resilience. This session tells the story of an experienced PIO juggling everything from evacuation route blunders to 'step-and-repeat' drama from politicians. It will be part presentation, part storytelling, to explore the connection and cooperation of Emergency Management (EM) and Public Health (PH) communicators.

In an era when institutional trust is low, PIOs can help rebuild credibility by shifting their focus from generic communications to messaging that addresses the relevant experiences of their audience. A strong Joint Information System (JIS), an informed Joint Information Center (JIC), and solid relationships are central to successful communication strategies.

The session delves into the tactical realities of the partnership between EM and PH staff and communications, highlighting how EM and PH PIOs can coordinate their efforts under pressure. This session hopes to provide tips for strengthening your JIS/JIC, rebuilding community trust, building resilience, and providing tips for response.