I. PURPOSE

To provide for the timely release of accurate information to the residents of St. Clair County in the event of a disaster or emergency.

II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS

A. Situation

1. St. Clair County could be affected by several types of disasters which would require the dissemination of information and instructions to the general public.

2. Adequate news media exist in St. Clair and surrounding counties (newspaper, radio and television) that could disseminate information and instruct the general public in the event of a disaster or emergency (See Appendix 4 to Annex C).

3. There are no prominent groups of non-English speaking people in St. Clair County. Dissemination of information will be in English. If necessary, the translation of emergency public information will be coordinated with the area schools' foreign languages staff.

B. Assumptions

1. The media serving St. Clair County will cooperate with local officials in the dissemination of information to the public.

2. Widespread or major disasters may result in state and national media coverage.

3. Media personnel from state and national levels will not be familiar with St. Clair County news release procedures.

4. Media personnel will attempt to obtain information from other than "official sources."

5. Federal and state officials may be on-site and called upon for information. Such federal and state agencies will provide PIO support to St. Clair County and its municipalities, if requested.

6. More than one local public information officer may be involved during emergency operations. Release of public information will be coordinated with appropriate county and city officials as necessary.

7. During an actual or impending emergency, or international crisis, the public will expect local government to provide specific information relating to safety, survival, and protection of property.

8. An effective public information program will reduce casualties and damages.

III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

A. General

1. The Public Information Officers of St. Clair County and its municipalities will be located in their respective EOCs. This location will serve as the single official point of contact for the media during an emergency.

2. Release of official public information will be approved by the chief elected official and/or the chief PIO.

3. Only information released by that jurisdiction's chief elected official or chief PIO will be considered official. The media will be so informed.

4. Information for release will be prepared and released to the media in accordance with the format described in Appendix 2 to this annex.

5. Response organizations are responsible for coordinating with the PIO and for clearing press releases with the jurisdiction's chief elected official before releasing information to the media for public use.

6. Any person, department, or agency releasing information to the public of their own volition will bear the responsibility for any legal or moral ramifications and repercussions resulting from that release.

7. Dissemination of public information will utilize all available media: television, radio, and newspaper.

8. Activation of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), if necessary, will be in accordance with the State EAS Operational Plan. The chief executive official will designate those personnel with authority to activate the EAS and issue releases. Procedures will be coordinated with the appropriate radio/television officials.

9. Public information personnel in the field will coordinate with the chief PIO through frequent contacts with the EOC staff.

10. Periodic briefings as necessary for media personnel will be conducted by the PIO.

11. A rumor control section will answer inquiries from the public and monitor media broadcasts to insure the public is receiving accurate information.

12. A major task of public information operations will be responding to inquiries. The PIO must establish procedures to inform families on the status of relatives that are injured or missing, emergency services that are available, damaged and/or restricted areas due to a disaster event, etc.

13. Prepare EPI materials that address survival tips for the nuclear attack hazard.

14. The PIO will work with the Health and Medical Coordinator to prepare EPI materials that describe the health risks associated with each hazard, the appropriate self-help or first aid actions, and other appropriate survival measures.

15. Should the need arise, the PIO will be responsible for developing EPI materials for the visually-impaired and non-English speaking groups.

16. The PIO will coordinate with the Emergency Management Director to prepare instructions for people who must evacuate from a high risk area (as a result of flooding, dam failure, etc.). These EPI materials will include the following for each threat:

a. definition of the population at risk

b. evacuation routes

c. suggestions on the types and quantities of clothing, food, medical items, etc., evacuees should take with them

d. locations of reception areas/shelters

e. safe travel routes for return to residences

f. centrally-located staging areas and pick-up points for evacuees without private automobiles or other means of transportation

g. instructions which show the location of reception centers, shelters and lodging, feeding facilities, and medical clinics, etc., in the hosting area

17. When an emergency occurs or threatens to occur that requires the dissemination of emergency public information to the public, the PIO will release this information as soon as possible.

18. The PIO will coordinate with State, Federal and private sector agencies to obtain technical information (health risks, weather, etc.) for release to the public and media.

19. Release of public information will include pre- disaster education and answering inquiries.

B. Tasks to be Performed by Operating Time Frame

1. Mitigation

a. Develop and conduct public information programs stressing hazard awareness and personal protection measures.

b. Establish agreements with all local information media (television, radio, and print) for the dissemination of EPI materials (see Appendix 3 to this annex).

c. Develop procedures for:

(1) Rumor control

(2) News releases

(3) Coordination with departmental PIOs

(4) Record keeping

(5) Print and broadcasting

d. Establish contact with local EAS stations and develop procedures for emergency release of information.

e. Prepare emergency information packages for release during emergencies and distribute them to local media.

f. Participate in local tests and exercises.

g. Coordinate all activities with PIOs of other county and/or city departments.

2. Preparedness

a. Analyze the potential disaster to ensure pertinent information is prepared for release.

b. Issue information through the media and EAS to allow the public to take protective actions.

c. Start rumor control operations as directed by Direction and Control.

d. Alert other public information personnel.

e. Establish a location for the release of information and advise the media.

3. Response

a. Release emergency information as necessary or as directed by Direction and Control.

b. Schedule and conduct briefings for the media.

c. Monitor all news media reports for accuracy.

d. Conduct rumor control activities.

e. Issue specific instructions as required by the situation:

(1) Appropriate protective action to be taken (i.e., evacuation instructions)

(2) Location of shelters and/or reception centers

(3) Places of contact for missing relatives

(4) Restricted areas

(5) Continued emergency services

f. Coordinate the release of information from private relief agencies.

g. Maintain a chronological record of disaster-related activities and news releases.

h. Issue announcements urging residents to share their homes, especially basements, if applicable (i.e., tornadoes, nuclear attack).

4. Recovery

a. Continue to distribute information as necessary.

b. Continue rumor control and news briefings.

c. Coordinate visitor control to the EOC and to the disaster site(s).

d. Supply information concerning status of disaster-affected individuals or families.

e. Coordinate EPI releases of higher levels of government.

f. Participate in after-action reports and critiques.

g. Develop a report listing a chronological record of events and news releases.

h. Maintain operational level until the situation returns to normal.

IV. ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Organization

The organizational chart for the emergency public information function is shown in Appendix 1 to this annex.

B. Assignment of Responsibilities

1. The St. Clair County Public Information Officer (PIO) will be the same as the St. Clair County Fire and Rescue PIO.

Appleton City has also appointed a PIO (see Appendix 2 to Annex A for specific appointment).

These PIOs are responsible for the preparation and release of public information and for rumor control.

2. The Emergency Management Directors will coordinate communications for this function to include those for rumor control and emergency broadcast monitoring.

3. Each operating department will furnish a PIO as required and/or necessary. Department PIOs will provide information to the County/City PIOs and help coordinate the release of public information.

V. DIRECTION AND CONTROL

A. Release of public information will be under the control of the Public Information Officer.

B. The Public Information Officer is a member of that jurisdiction's EOC staff.

VI. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT

A. The line of succession for the County and City Public Information Officers will be through their chief elected officials.

B. Alternate site for PIO Operations

1. In the event the EOC cannot be used or a total evacuation is necessary, PIO operations will be from a location designated by the chief elected official in charge.

2. In the event of a limited emergency, PIO operations may be directed from a location designated at that time.

VII. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

A. Administration

1. A chronological file of all news releases during a disaster will be maintained in the EOC, to include a log of these releases. (See Appendix 5 to this annex.)

2. A historic chronological file of all disaster- related events will also be maintained for future reference.

3. All other administrative functions will be the responsibility of the Emergency Management organization.

4. Letters of understanding will be developed with local media (see Appendix 3 to this annex).

B. Logistics

1. Communications support will be furnished by the Sheriff's Office or the municipal police departments, as possible and/or required.

2. All other logistical support will be the responsibility of and provided as necessary by the Emergency Management Director.

VIII. ANNEX DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

A. This annex and its supporting documents will be maintained by the County and City PIOs, as well as their Emergency Management Directors.

B. Samples of prepared news releases and related emergency instructions/information are contained under a separate cover furnished to the various Emergency Management Directors as part of the development of this plan.

C. This annex and the procedures contained therein will be reviewed and tested annually and revised as necessary.

Appendices

1. EPI Organizational Chart

2. Format and Procedures for News Releases

3. Statement of Understanding for Emergency Public Information Operations

4. News Media Contact Numbers

5. News Release Log

* Springfield

** Kansas City

A. FORMAT

1. Name, address, and phone number of the news release initiator.

2. Text of the news release.

3. Substantiating records for the release.

4. Date and time received.

5. Date and time released.

6. How and to whom the news release was issued.

B. RELEASE PROCEDURES

1. Verify the authenticity of the information contained in the release.

2. Verify that a duplicate release has not already been made.

3. Prepare the release in the format listed above.

4. Determine if the information contained in the release is in the public interest and will not create unwarranted or unnecessary fear, anguish, or other adverse reaction among the public. However, news releases will not be withheld simply to avoid political or public official embarrassment should the situation so warrant.

5. News releases will be distributed fairly and impartially to the news media.

6. Copies of all news releases will be filed chronologically.

7. Copies of all news releases will be furnished to the Rumor Control center.

This statement of understanding is entered into between (Radio-TV stations and/or Newspapers) , hereinafter referred to as the media, and (city and/or county) , hereinafter referred to as (the city and/or the county) to provide emergency information to the citizens of (the city and/or the county) whenever a threat to life and property exists from natural or man-made causes.

When, in the opinion of the chief executive of (the city and/or the county) , a threat to life and property exists or threatens (the city and/or county) , the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of (the city and/or county) will be placed on an appropriate status and staffed in accordance with the severity of the existing or potential threat, and lines of communication will be opened and maintained for the duration of such threat between the EOC and the media.

The EOC of (the city and/or county) will:

1. Provide the media with a description of the threat and the actions that the emergency staff of (the city and/or the county) is taking to combat the effects of the threat.

2. Provide immediate guidance for the public to lessen the dangers to life and property from the threat.

3. Establish with the media, a schedule of briefings on the progress of the threat and additional actions to be taken by the public to lessen the possibility of loss of life and damage to property.

4. Issue bulletins on any significant changes in the threat as those changes occur.

5. Advise the media that the danger of the threat has passed and that no further EOC operations are necessary.

The media, at their discretion, and within operating limitations imposed by management or any rules and regulations imposed by appropriate government agencies, will:

1. Accept the transmissions from the EOC of (the city and/or the county) for inclusion in regular news programs or as special news bulletins or to be printed as emergency guidance for the purpose of saving life or reduction of property damage, for the duration of the threat.

2. Accept and maintain in place any equipment provided for communications and report to (the city and/or the county) any damage to or outages of such equipment.

3. Test any equipment provided by (the city and/or the county) by brief two-way transmissions on the *(last Friday of each month at 11:00 a.m. local time) .

NB: THIS STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE (city and/or the county) AND THE MEDIA IS IN NO WAY INTENDED TO ABRIDGE THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS OR TO CONSTRAIN THE EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITY INHERENT IN AN OPEN SOCIETY. THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING IS TO ESTABLISH A SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA WHEN A THREAT OR POTENTIAL THREAT EXISTS TO THE LIFE AND PROPERTY OF THE CITIZENS OF (the city and/or county) .

______________________________ ____________________________

For the Media For the city and/or county

*Entered as an example only, testing should be established

by mutual agreement and entered in the statement of understanding at this point.

A. NEWSPAPERS

1. St. Clair County Courier

P.O. Box 460, Osceola 64776 . . . . 417/646-2211

2. Appleton City Journal

P.O. Box 460, Osceola 64776 . . . . 816/476-5566

B. RADIO STATIONS

1. KTTS 1260 AM, 94.7 FM

2330 W. Grand, Springfield. . . . . 417/869-2153

2. KGBX 105.9 FM

1856 S. Glenstone, Springfield . . . .417/890-5555

3. WDAF 610 AM

3030 Summit, Kansas City . . . . . . 816/931-6100

4. KDKD

P.O. Box 448, Clinton . . . . . . . 816/885-6141

C. TELEVISION STATIONS

1. KDEB-TV, Channel 27

P.O. Box 3417, Springfield . . . . . 417/862-2727

2. KOLR-TV, Channel 10

2650 E. Division, Springfield . . . 417/862-1010

3. KOZK-TV, Channel 21

P.O. Box 21, Springfield . . . . . . 417/865-2100

4. KYTV-TV, Channel 3

999 W. Sunshine, Springfield . . . . 417/866-2766

5. KSPR-TV, Channel 33

1359 St. Louis St., Springfield . . . .417-831-1234

5. KSHB-TV, Channel 41

4720 Oak, Kansas City . . . . . . . 816/753-4141

6. KCTV-TV, Channel 5

4500 Johnson Dr., Fairway, Kansas . 913/677-5555

7. KCPT-TV Channel 19

125 E. 31st Street, Kansas City . . 816/756-3580

8. KMBC-TV, Channel 9

1049 Central, Kansas City . . . . . 816/221-9999

9. WDAF-TV, Channel 4

3030 Summit, Kansas City . . . . . . 816/753-4567

10. KYFC-TV, Channel 50

4715 Rainbow Blvd.,

Shawnee Mission, Kansas . . . . . . 913/262-1700

11. KEKR-TV, Channel 62

2111 Blue Summit Rd., Kansas City . 816/254-6262

D. CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE

Multivision Cable TV . . . . . . . . . 1-800-367-7320