10
Food Emergency Response Plan
Communication and Coordination
Effective response coordination involves establishing and maintaining clear lines of communication
between lead and supporting agencies, neighboring jurisdictions, and the private sector. Communication
and coordination also involves dissemination of incident information to the public.
A contact list for primary and support entities identied in this plan should be included as an appendix to
the FERP. The list should be updated periodically, as determined by the plan. A lead organization should be
designated as the responsible entity to update the plans. An example of a contact list is included in Section
III of the FERP Supplemental Information.
How will existing state communication networks (e.g., health alert network) be used 1.
to disseminate information during a food emergency?
How will incident command posts or area commands communicate with the SEOC?2.
What agency will be the lead in the Joint Information Center (JIC)?3.
What agencies, groups or associations will be present in the JIC during a food emergency?4.
Where will the JIC be located?5.
Who will have access to the contact information associated with the FERP?6.
How will this information be distributed?7.
How would disease surveillance or outbreak investigation results be shared with the Joint 8.
Operations Center (JOC) or Joint Field Ofce (JFO), if necessary?
If the incident is determined to be a terrorist incident, how will the response JIC interact with the 9.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) JIC?
How will information be shared 10.
among public and private partners?
How will information be used to 11.
minimize the impact of an incident
on an industry or facilitate recovery?
With whom will information be 12.
shared?
What communication strategies and 13.
plans exist?
Is there a graphic representation of 14.
the communication system or plan?
What types of fact sheets, key 15.
messages, and other informational
materials need to be prepared
in advance to support a food
emergency?
What groups will be involved with 16.
the development and dissemination
of public information?
What are the procedures for estab-17.
lishing a Joint Information System
(JIS)?
Sample Communication Tasks -
Activate the JIS, ensuring that local health departments •
and other partners are updated
Prepare and update basic fact sheets, key messages •
and other informational materials for distribution to part-
ners, stakeholders, and the public through appropriate
established channels
Prepare and publish information that is accessible to the •
public via the Internet, in coordination with the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, PIOs, local health departments, and
other participating groups
Coordinate with federal, state, and local PIOs regarding •
information release protocols
Prepare and send out media releases in coordination •
with the lead agency to the Department of Agriculture,
DHS Communications, the governor’s ofce, Emergency
Management, epidemiologists, affected local agencies
and other participating groups
Prepare a media release in anticipation of the laboratory •
conrmation of a presumptive positive, including instruc-
tions for the public about proper treatment and access to
information about specic sites
Prepare for media briengs•