Florida Association of Public Information Officers

The Public Information Officers Section of the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association

The Florida Association of Public Information Officers (FAPIO) provides training through the development and coordination of a wide range of opportunities, including the largest statewide PIO event, the Florida PIO Symposium and associated programs held each January in Daytona Beach. FAPIO membership is governed by a section council and executive board. Membership in the association is not required to take advantage of the training opportunities or to join the Florida PIO Deployment Team. We are an all-disciplines organization. Regardless of your wheelhouse - if you are in law enforcement, fire rescue, EMS, municipal, county, state or federal government, transit, education or healthcare, utilities or non-governmental agencies, you are welcome to take advantage of our programs and benefit from our association.

Section & Committee Policy
Description & By-Laws
Announcements
Statewide PIO Deployment
Section Council
Goals
Press Release Templates
PIO Training


Announcements

FAPIO offers PIO Training annually in conjunction with the Florida Fire & EMS Conference to be held in January 2025.

Information Coming Soon!


Statewide Public Information Officer (PIO) Deployment Team

Florida Association of PIOs nationally recognized instruction team and FEMA national guest instructors FAPIO now offers the updated FEMA Basic PIO curriculum, expanded from two to three days of training. It is intended for Public Information Officers who are new to the field or less experienced, established PIOs who desire to refresh their training, new emergency managers, and is a required course for the FEMA National Emergency Management Basic Academy. The course emphasis is on the basic skills and knowledge needed for public safety, emergency management and government/municipal public information activities. Topics include: the role of the PIO, communications tools, awareness campaigns, news release writing, public speaking, conducting media interviews and news conferences, strategic communications, and social media. The cost for this class is $150, and you’ll receive half-off admission to the 2023 PIO Symposium. NOTE: There is a prerequisite for the L0105 that can be completed online. FEMA IS-29.A (Public Information Officer Awareness), available at this link: http://bit.ly/2oQ1WS9. You need a FEMA student identification number https://cdp.dhs.gov/FEMASID. You will need to provide proof of your IS-29.A certificate before your L0105 certificate will be issued. Strongly recommended, though not required, are the following National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses: IS-100.B (Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS), IS-200.B (ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents), IS-700.A (NIMS – An Introduction), IS-800.B (National Response Framework – An Introduction).

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Section Council
Chair Mike Jachles, MPIO
(850) 296-0777
Vice-Chair
Corey Dobridnia, APIO
Walton County Sheriff's Office
Deployment Team Coordinator Marcos Osorio, Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal
Village of Key Biscayne Fire Rescue
Secretary
Corey Dierdorf, APIO
Pasco County Fire Rescue
At-Large Member Andrew Sullivan, MPIO
Osceola County Fire Rescue
 FFCA Board Liaison Chuck Bogle, Fire Chief
City of Melbourne Fire Department
Region 1 - Panhandle Corey Dobridnia, APIO
Walton County Sheriff's Office
Region 2 - Tallahassee Area Mike Bellamy, Captain, PIO
Tallahassee Fire Department
Region 3 - Jacksonville Area Drew Ford, APIO
Clay County Sheriff’s Office
Region 4 - Tampa-St. Pete Area Kevin Watler, APIO
University of South Florida
Region 5 - Orlando/Central Florida Lauren Luna, APIO
Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD)
Region 6 - Southwest FL
Heather Mazurkiewicz
North Collier Fire Control & Rescue District
Region 7 - Southeast FL Joel Gordon, Battalion Chief, MPIO
Plantation Fire Department


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Goals

Florida's PIO Deployment Team provides support to localities that require additional public communications capability during an emergency.  The PIO Deployment Team works with local public affairs officers to provide people in the incident area with the most accurate and timely information possible. Florida's PIO Deployment Team provides support to localities that require additional public communications capability during an emergency. The PIO Deployment Team works with local public affairs officers to provide people in the incident area with the most accurate and timely information possible.

Deployment Application and Letter View
How to Join View
Joint Information Center Guiidelines View
Statewide Public Information Officers View
Team Handbook View
Cost Estimate Form View


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Press Release Templates
Advisories for health and safety in recovery.pdf View
As You Rebuild.pdf View
Brevard handout.pdf View
Caring for your pets after a disaster.pdf View
Chain saw safety.pdf View
Cleaning food and kitchen items.pdf View
Cleaning up mold in your home.pdf View
E coli in flood waters.pdf View
Electrical safety during cleanup.pdf View
Extreme Heat.pdf View
FAQ Traumatic events.pdf View
Generators in disaster situations.pdf View
Heart attack know the warning signs.pdf View
Heat stress in the elderly.pdf View
Helping children cope with fear and anxiety.pdf View
Home clean-up after the storm.pdf View
Information for Pet Owners.pdf View
Ladder safety protecting yourself from falls.pdf View
Mold in water-damaged buildings.pdf View
Motor vehicle safety after the storm.pdf View
Norovirus FAQ.pdf View
On camera.pdf View
Post Storm Fish Kills.pdf View
Prevent injury and illness after the storm.pdf View
Preventing Electrocutions from generators plugged into household circuits.pdf View
Protect yourself and others from electrical hazards.pdf View
Protect_yourself from animal and insect hazards.pdf View
Release template-Martin Co.pdf View
Risks to water supply.pdf View
Tetanus shots for those who suffer wounds.pdf View
Tips for survivors of a traumatic event.pdf View
What is a Boil Water notice.pdf View


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PIO Training

FAPIO offers PIO Training annually in conjunction with Fire-Rescue East in January.

FEMA L0105 Public Information Officer (PIO) Basics

Florida Association of PIOs nationally recognized instruction team and FEMA national guest instructors

FAPIO now offers the updated FEMA Basic PIO curriculum, expanded from two to three days of training. It is intended for Public Information Officers who are new to the field or less experienced, established PIOs who desire to refresh their training, new emergency managers, and is a required course for the FEMA National Emergency Management Basic Academy.

The course emphasis is on the basic skills and knowledge needed for public safety, emergency management and government/municipal public information activities. Topics include: the role of the PIO, communications tools, awareness campaigns, news release writing, public speaking, conducting media interviews and news conferences, strategic communications, and social media.

NOTE: There is a prerequisite for the L0105 that can be completed online. FEMA IS-29.A (Public Information Officer Awareness), available at this link: http://bit.ly/2oQ1WS9. You need a FEMA student identification number https://cdp.dhs.gov/FEMASID. You will need to provide proof of your IS-29.A certificate before your L0105 certificate will be issued.

Strongly recommended, though not required, are the following National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses: IS-100.B (Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS), IS-200.B (ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents), IS-700.A (NIMS – An Introduction), IS-800.B (National Response Framework – An Introduction).

FAPIO Advanced PIO Skills Workshop

The FAPIO Advanced PIO Skills Workshop was developed by FEMA Master PIOs to build on the skills introduced in the Basic PIO course and better prepare the PIO for handling all facets of public information for a variety of situations, from high profile incidents to managing internal and external crises. Often, PIOs are introduced to these skills during their basic training but often don’t test them until a crisis strikes. It will also better prepare the PIO for meeting the many challenges encountered in the intensive, week-long FEMA Advanced PIO Program. Class size will be limited to optimize small group instruction and feedback. Students will be critiqued on their products through constructive feedback.

This is a dynamic workshop that is updated with new material and nationally recognized, guest instructors every year, so repeat participation is encouraged.

Suggested prerequisite, but not required: Applicants should have completed, at minimum, FEMA G290 Basic PIO or have been a practicing PIO for two years.

The Florida PIO Symposium

A full day symposium with a lineup of top speakers and topics specific to the PIO profession, the program is updated each year to ensure the most relevant topics and issues are offered.

Joint Information Center Guidelines.pdf View
Regional Domestic Security Taskforce.pdf View