Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
staff. Remember that each of these officials will have the primary responsibility for
making sure the story—as it relates to their agency, discipline, or jurisdiction—gets
out to the media. But there is no reason they cannot work together and collaborate
in order to establish the JIS and provide the personnel for the JIC.
The JIC is basically an instrument to help facilitate the processes that take place
within the JIS—much like the EOC is an instrument to help facilitate the processes
that take place within the Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP). As a result,
there are other parallels between these two elements of Public Information. The ele-
ments of the JIS must be worked out well in advance of the occurrence of a disaster.
Table 21.6
Different Types of JIC
JIC Type
Description
Incident
Typically, an incident-specific JIC is established at a single,
on-scene location in coordination with federal, state, tribal, and
local agencies or at the national level, if the situation warrants. It
provides easy media access, which is paramount to success. This
is a typical JIC.
Virtual
A virtual JIC is established when a physical colocation is not
feasible. It connects PIOs through e-mail, cell/landline phones,
faxes, video teleconferencing, Web-based information systems,
etc. For a pandemic incident where PIOs at different locations
communicate and coordinate public information electronically, it
may be appropriate to establish a virtual JIC.
Satellite
A satellite JIC is smaller in scale than other JICs. It is established
primarily to support the incident JIC and to operate under its
direction. These are subordinate JICs, which are typically located
closer to the scene.
Area
An area JIC supports multiple-incident ICS structures that are
spread over a wide geographic area. It is typically located near the
largest media market and can be established on a local, state, or
multistate basis. Multiple states experiencing storm damage may
participate in an area JIC.
Support
A support JIC is established to supplement the efforts of several
Incident JICs in multiple states. It offers additional staff and
resources outside of the disaster area.
National
A national JIC is established when an incident requires federal
coordination and is expected to be of long duration (weeks or
months) or when the incident affects a large area of the country. A
national JIC is staffed by numerous federal department and/or
agencies, as well as state agencies and nongovernment
organizations.
