Incident Magazine

Throughout my internship, I have had the honor to work alongside incredible teams that continue to help me build a solid foundation. I have been able to help publish numerous press releases, organize press conferences, provide public crisis updates, generate student engagement ideas, create visuals for recruitment campaigns, answer calls in an active JIC, and more (thank god for commas).

Though the most impactful part of this role has been showing the community that despite the circumstances of the day there are people who care and want to help. As a PIO I am grateful to work with people who embody this sentiment.

Looking back to early on in my internship there has been a guiding framework that I find helpful in organizing all I have learned. In the Public Information section of FEMA NIMS Independent Study Courses, there was the  95/5 Concept. 95% of a PIO’s job is proactive work outside of crises, while only 5% is managing active emergencies. During that 95%, it is all about building trust within the community and proactively addressing its needs. When a crisis strikes that rapport creates a valuable ally.

I saw this principle in action during the Alexander Mountain Fire. Throughout the fire, the JIC was flooded with calls from community members eager to help evacuees and donate supplies to responders. Our agency’s rapport with the community had mobilized resources before they were formally requested. Ultimately, my experience has reinforced my career aspiration: to build the kind of trust and rapport that unites community members in times of crisis.