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interest in or could benefit from a PIO’s work). The JIS integrates incident information and
public affairs into a cohesive organization to provide complete, coordinated information before,
during, and after an incident. The JIS mission is to provide a structure and system to help PIOs
complete the following tasks:
• Develop and deliver coordinated interagency messages
• Develop, recommend, and execute public information plans and strategies on behalf of the
IC, Unified Command, MAC Group, and EOC director
• Advise the IC, Unified Command, MAC Group, and EOC director concerning public affairs
issues that could affect the incident management effort
• Address and manage rumors and inaccurate information that could undermine public
confidence and interfere with emergency response or incident operations
A JIS cuts across the three levels of incident management—on-scene/tactical,
center/coordination, and policy/strategic—and helps ensure coordinated messaging among all
incident personnel. PIOs should agree on how to divide their responsibilities to avoid gaps or
duplication of efforts. Ideally, PIOs will coordinate before an incident occurs and document their
decisions in the jurisdiction’s or organization’s emergency operations plan.
System Description and Components
Public information leaders prepare for incidents by coordinating their processes, plans, protocols,
procedures, and structures in advance. PIOs at all levels of government and within the private
sector, nonprofit sector, and JICs are important supporting elements of the JIS. Key elements of
the JIS include the following:
• Interagency coordination and integration
• Gathering, verifying, coordinating, and disseminating consistent messages
• Integrating messaging from various levels of incident management
• Providing public affairs support for decision makers
• Ensuring flexibility, modularity, and adaptability
Joint Information Center (JIC)
The JIC is a facility that houses JIS operations. This is where personnel with public information
responsibilities perform essential public information and public affairs functions. Leaders can
establish a JIC as a standalone coordination entity, as a component of an EOC, or virtually.
Depending on incident needs, an incident-specific JIC can arise either on-scene (through local,
state, and federal agency coordination) or at the national level. A national JIC may be necessary
when an incident includes federal coordination and is expected to last for weeks or months, or
when the incident affects a large geographic area.
PIOs prepare public information releases for IC, Unified Command, EOC director, or MAC
Group review. This helps ensure consistent messages, avoids release of conflicting information,
and prevents adverse impact on operations. Jurisdictions and organizations can issue public
information materials (such as statements, talking points, or social media messaging strategy)