Public Information Officers (PIO) and staff from 12 State of Michigan departments participated in a public information seminar this week hosted by the Michigan State Police (MSP) Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.  The purpose of the two-day seminar was to provide an opportunity for state agency PIO's to review, test and evaluate the Michigan Emergency Public Information Plan (MEPIP), which is being developed as a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Preparedness Technical Assistance Program.

Day one of the seminar included training on the National Incident Management System (NIMS), National Response Plan (NRP), basic Emergency Management and Message Dissemination to Special Needs Populations.  Richard Brundage, an internationally renowned crisis communication expert, conducted training on media relations and message development. 

On day two, participants reviewed the draft MEPIP before working through three disaster scenarios.  The last of the three scenarios, a functional exercise, simulated a food tampering incident, which resulted in a simulated outbreak of a bacterial illness.  Participants were assigned to positions within a Joint Information Center (JIC) under an Incident Command Structure to develop and disseminate messages to the public.  The seminar concluded with a mock press briefing.

"Public information during an emergency is critical to public health and safety," stated Capt. Eddie Washington, commander of the MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.  "This seminar provided an excellent opportunity for state PIO's to work together and learn from each other during staged emergencies."

In addition to state agency PIO's, representatives from Michigan 2-1-1, Michigan Grocers Association, Michigan Farm Bureau and the MSU School of Journalism participated.  The Technical Assistance Program will also assist departments in creating an agency specific public information plan.