Effective communication with the public is critical in any emergency response. Accurately conveying current risks and protective actions helps individuals make decisions that can keep themselves and their families safe.
Communicating during a school crisis poses a unique set of challenges as parents are eager to know what is happening and what is being done to ensure the safety of their children. Effective and timely emergency notifications can keep parents from making decisions that may have a negative impact on the emergency response during a time of crisis.
The training has been revised to focus on the communication needs of schools and the people schools must reach during an emergency. The training provides background on the Public Information function, provides advice for establishing communication plans and how to communicate with the public, and offers guidance on media relations, interviews, and press conferences.
Vermont Emergency Management's Public Information Officer Mark Bosma in collaboration with the Vermont School Safety Center is offering a 4-hour Public Information training for school administrators and communicators. It is offered as a free service to schools, it can be brought directly to districts. To bring this training to your district, you must have a facility and a minimum of 8 attendees - contact mark.bosma@vermont.gov for more information.