There are at least two compelling reasons to rethink the classic communication plan and how it applies to on-scene information officers making sense out of a high-risk incident and sharing that information with the public.
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First, rethinking the model communication plan to make it fit an unfolding incident means that we must eliminate the amount of time it usually takes to build one. Incident PIOs are working within a collapsed time frame during a high-risk incident and sometimes the ‘goals and objectives’ can be moving targets. Incident PIOs are not engaged in building a public affairs plan for the construction of a district office, or in other words, for any predictable event. Additionally, an incident usually has an inherent complexity level. The Incident Information Strategy should be so straight forward as to be transparent.
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Second, the “Comm Plan,” as it is affectionately referred to on an incident, is something that the Communications Unit Leader compiles. They incorporate a lot of radio frequencies in it and this plan becomes a page in the daily Incident Action Plan.
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A sample of the classic model communication plan is probably readily available in the public affairs office of your local unit. What is offered in this toolbox includes 1) a very simple strategy guide that blends incident field operations with the essential elements of effective planning as listed by the Federal Communicators Network and 2) a 10-day training event plan that follows the classic model and contains a lot of information.
Incident Information Strategy – This is what we face and this is what we’re going to do and why. Incidents are inherently complex, but our information strategies should remain simple and straight forward. Try this guide to see if you like a faster method of planning.
Arizona Wildfire Academy Communication Plan – This detailed plan includes nearly all of the components you would want to capture. It is a thorough pre-event, during event and post-event set of steps with contact information and assignments.
