PIO Work Group

Public Information Officers (PIOs) communicate with the public, the media, and other stakeholders before, during, and in the aftermath of an emergency. This communication is a critical emergency management capability that can save lives, property, and the environment.

The RDPO PIO Work Group is a network of individuals who support emergency public information and warning in the Portland Metro Region (PMR). Members come from a broad spectrum of agencies, disciplines, and jurisdictions.

Chair: Kimberlee Ables, Metro - kimberlee.ables@oregonmetro.gov
Vice Chair: Jaymee Cuti, PBEM - jaymee.cuti@portlandoregon.gov

Documents

Our SOP and Con-Ops Plan will be updated in 2023.

• Recommended PIO Trainings (Jan 2023)

• Standard Operating Procedures (2016)

• Regional PIO Con-Ops Summary (2016)

• Regional PIO Con-Ops (2016)

Concept of Operations (Summary)

Purpose

Public Information Officers (PIOs) from the Portland Metropolitan Region adopted the ConOps plan to help conduct and coordinate crisis communications during emergency response and other situations in which multiple organizations need to collaborate to provide timely, useful, and accurate information to the public and other stakeholders. The ConOps was developed by PIOs from Clackamas, Clark, Columbia, Multnomah and Washington counties and the city of Portland, special districts, cities, the states of Oregon and Washington, the federal government and other agencies.

How It Works

Phase One - Local Joint Information System (JIS) Mobilization

After a disaster occurs, PIOs operate using their respective agencies’ public information plans. Coordination occurs with local counterparts and regional partners as appropriate, but the public information needs of the response are mostly handled at the local level.

Phase Two – Transition to Regional Joint Information System (R-JIS) Operations

If the public information needs of a disaster become unmanageable by a single agency or require regional coordination, the Regional Lead PIO Group – with PIO representatives from Clackamas, Clark, Columbia, Multnomah and Washington counties, the city of Portland, Port of Portland, Metro, and TriMet – and PIOs from other impacted agencies and disciplines as appropriate – convenes a conference call to assess the situation. The decision is then made to do one of the following:

1. Maintain the status quo but actively monitor conditions.

2. Begin enhanced coordination through the R-JIS.

3. Provide PIO mutual aid to the affected jurisdiction(s).

4. Activate a Regional Joint Information Center (R-JIC) to support the R-JIS.

Phase Three – R-JIS Operations

PIOs operating as part of the R-JIS – through mutual aid, enhanced coordination, or an R-JIC – will coordinate with PIOs operating at emergency operation centers/emergency coordination centers involved in the incident, and a multi-agency coordination group (if activated).

Phase Four – Demobilization

As the disaster ramps down and public information needs decline, R-JIS operations cease. Conditions are monitored closely in case the situation changes.