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Outreach Team: Scope of Practice

Mission


To provide timely and useful emergency-related information to the public before, during, and after a disaster


Pre-Disaster Activities


  • Participate in community-sponsored training, drills, and exercises.


  • Create and disseminate information (website, website blog, website events, social media, flyers, posters, articles in local newspaper).


  • Support outreach needs of other teams, including organization fundraising, and ensure that messaging is consistent and not duplicated.


  • Attend regular meetings with Community Public Information Officer (PIO) and backup PIOs to establish post-disaster procedures.


  • Participate in Emergency Operations Center drills.


  • Maintain voluntary membership in the National Information Officers Association, the state Emergency Managers Association, the International Association of Emergency Managers, and the state Preparedness Group.


  • Establish and meet annual outreach goals.


  • Support organization in fundraising efforts.


  • Communicate with volunteers for team-strengthening and information dissemination purposes


Activation Timeline


Two hours post-incident, as Ready Your Street responsibilities allow (e.g., take care of local emergencies first)


Post-Disaster Activation


  • Team Lead will report to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) after a disaster, according to recall procedures. 


  • Team Lead will submit a completed windshield survey—with special attention to Critical Infrastructure locations—to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) upon arrival.


  • At EOC, Team Lead will report and provide support to Emergency Management Coordinator and PIO.


  • In addition, Team Lead will create a draft of daily news for dissemination to the public, to be reviewed by PIO, EM, Fire Department Lead, and other key personnel at the EOC. This “Disaster Daily” will be disseminated as white board information at the Hubs and/or printed and distributed as hard copies via drone or bike messengers at the Hubs.


  • Other team members will be on standby to assist in information dissemination and to take shifts at the EOC.


Hours will vary based on the nature of the incident but should not exceed one 12-hour shift/24-hour period for a maximum of 14 consecutive days. 


Supervision Responsibilities


Team Lead will supervise other Outreach team members as needed and will assist in supervising alternative transportation messengers (e.g., Bike Brigade, Runners) on matters related to information dissemination. 


Training and Orientation


  • Website and Social Media Protocols Training


  • FEMA IS-100 (An Introduction to the Incident Command System)


  • FEMA IS-700 (An Introduction to the National Incident Management System)

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