NOTICE TO STUDENTS:
- THIS COURSE LISTING IS NOT OPEN FOR REGISTRATION - The dates shown for this course iteration are only for the purpose of posting this listing. Actual course dates will be posted once known.
- This course has a very long lead-time. North Dakota is currently on FEMA's schedule for this course to be delivered sometime during FY26 (October 2025-September 2026).
- The date indicated for this course listing is a placeholder not the actual date.
- Due to the lengthy prerequisites and multiple requirements for selection, we are listing this course to allow ample notice for potential students to complete all requirements prior to delivery in FY26.
Course Description
The National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) devote significant attention to the importance of emergency public information. Public Information Officers are key members of the ICS and EOC organizations, and work closely with officials who are part of Multiagency Coordination Groups. PIOs advise the Incident Commander, Unified Command, and EOC director on public information relating to incident management.
With public information included as a function within NIMS and within ICS, it is critical to address and provide training for this important element of Emergency Management.
The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Public Information Officer (PIO) training curriculum includes courses delivered at the awareness, basic, intermediate, advanced and master levels. The awareness, basic and intermediate level courses were developed by EMI and are managed by state emergency management trainers who teach basic skills and techniques for use during small, localized, single-agency responses; preparedness campaigns; and escalating localized responses.
The advanced level course teaches participants additional skills for use during escalating incidents, including strategic communications and incident action planning as it relates to Joint Information Center (JIC) operations.
The goals of this course are to:
- Provide participants with the knowledge and skills to establish, manage and work within a JIC through multimedia lectures and individual and group activities.
- Provide participants the opportunity to apply advanced public information skills during a multi-day functional exercise (FE) designed to test the participants' abilities to analyze, coordinate, process and create information in a fast-paced, realistic environment.
- Provide participants the opportunity to apply advanced public information skills in the short- and long-term recovery phases of an incident.
- Encourage participants to improve their processes and ensure every action has a measurable relevance for each identified audience, including senior leadership.
The learner must achieve a minimum passing score of 75% on final knowledge assessments or demonstrate mastery on performance assessments or research assignments to earn the IACET CEU.
Selection Criteria:
- Full-time public Information personnel with a minimum of two (2) years of full-time public information experience.
- Succesfull completion of all prerequisites.
- Students who have not attended this training in the previous five years may also apply.
ACE: Level: Upper Division
ACE: Credit Hours: 3
ACE: Curriculum: Public information and media dissemination, emergency management, or disaster management
CECs: 12
Course Objectives
- Demonstrate team-building skills.
- Demonstrate leadership in crisis.
- Demonstrate effective crisis communication.
- Perform a situational awareness assessment.
- Prioritize communication tools and personnel requirements.
- Prioritize the messages that go out to the public.
- Demonstrate communications skills necessary to provide the right information at the right time to the right audience while working in a stressful mass communication environment.
- Prepare and coordinate talking points for a simulated government executive.
- Establish a Strategic Communication Plan for a simulated natural disaster.
- Simplify complex messages for identified audiences.
- Resolve conflicting media information and rumors.
- Maintain a relationship between the EOC and the JIC
- Analyze personal and organizational readiness based on current guidance.
- Analyze the characteristics of the changing American family and how the media and fear play a role in shaping communication goals and messages.
- Demonstrate communications skills during the recovery period after a disaster.
Mission Areas
Prerequisites
Participants must have successfully completed:
- IS-29.a: Public Information Officer Awareness
- IS-42: Social Media in Emergency Management
- IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS) (or ICS course for specific specialty: healthcare, public works, etc.)
- IS-200.c: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
- IS-201: Forms Used for the Development of the Incident Action Plan
- IS-247.b: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alert Originators or IS-251.a: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alerting Administrators
- IS-700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
- IS-800.d: National Response Framework, An Introduction
- E/K/L0105: Public Information Basic (no exceptions or waivers)
Recommended:
Other recommended (not required) courses:
- IS-120: An Introduction to Exercises
- IS-242: Effective Communication
- IS-247: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alert Originators
- IS-251: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alerting Administrators
- IS-650: Building Partnerships with Tribal Governments
- IS-660: Introduction to Public-Private Partnerships
- IS-909: Community Preparedness - Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone
- IS-2900 National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) Overview
- E/G0300: ICS 300 - Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents
Disciplines:
Emergency Management
Primary Core Capability:
Training Certificate
- FEMA Certificate of Completion
STUDENT INFORMATION
UNIFORM/ATTIRE:
- Casual attire is encouraged.
CLASS MATERIALS:
- NDDES no longer prints course materials. The student course packet (student manual and course handouts) is distributed as a PDF via email. You may print this packet to bring with you or use it on an electronic device (computer or tablet, phones are not recommended for this).
- It is your responsibility to have the required materials for class. If you experience issues with the attachment to this email reach out via the contact info below for assistance.
- This class requires both pre-test and post-test assessments which are delivered online, therefore a device such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone is required.
- Any method to take notes (notebook, iPad, tablet) is acceptable and encouraged.
- Food and beverages (in covered containers) are permitted.
- A positive and open attitude is always welcomed too.
TRANSPORTATION:
- Transportation will be coordinated at the individual unit/organization level.
LODGING:
Lodging is not provided. A block of rooms has been reserved, details are below:
Hotel: The Courtyard Bismarck North, 3319 North 14th Street Bismarck.
Reservation name: ND Emergency Services
Reservation dates: Check-in Sunday, August 13, 2023, check-out Thursday, August 17, 2023.
Room block available until: July 13th, 2023.
Online booking link: You may book online at this link.
NOTE: If you are claiming reimbursement to be paid back to a government agency such as a county, instead of you, then taxes will not be reimbursed, and the maximum rate remains at $88.20.
- DO NOT use a third-party hotel reservation system (hotels.com, expedia.com, trivago.com, etc.) if you’ll be requesting lodging reimbursement:
- You will most likely not get the state rate.
- You will most likely not get an itemized (shows rate, taxes, and other fees) zero-balance hotel receipt which is required for reimbursement.
- You will most likely get a composite receipt for the total amount and the hotel itself will not be able to give you one either.
MEALS:
Meals are not provided. In-state reimbursement rates are:
- Breakfast – $7.00.
- Lunch – $10.50.
- Dinner – $17.50.
REIMBURSEMENT:
As of October 1, 2022, the GSA/maximum reimbursable rate for lodging in ND is $98.00. It is acceptable for state and local taxes to be charged, so you may see a lower rate at 90% of the GSA rate ($98 x 90% = $88.20) plus applicable taxes. This lower rate plus taxes must still not exceed the GSA/reimbursable rate of $98.00. Amounts more than the GSA rate may still be reimbursed up to the GSA maximum of $98.00.
NDDES will reimburse lodging and per-diem at state rates for participants who:
- Are First Responders, or:
- Work in emergency management, or:
- Are employees of state, local or tribal government/jurisdictions, and:
- Live or work in North Dakota, and:
- Live more than 50 miles from the training location.
- DES does not reimburse vehicle mileage.
You will need:
