ESF-14: PUBLIC INFORMATION

ESF-14: PUBLIC INFORMATION

First Priority	Relaying information related to life threatening situations, such as advising people of a high-risk area that the time to evacuate has arrived
Second Priority	Relaying health and safety information, such as when to boil water or how to avoid possible contaminated foods
Third Priority	Information for public convenience, such as the location of congregate feeding and donation sites and where to apply for emergency food stamps
Fourth Priority	Rumors will vary and depending on the threat created by the rumor, ESF-14 will determine which priority rumors should receive

for the media.

b. Levy County Sheriff’s Office

c. Levy County Emergency Medical Services

d. Levy County Health Department

e. Levy County Constitutional Offices

f. Levy County Agriculture Extension Agency

g. Levy County Fire/Rescue Department

h. Municipal governments and police departments

i. Private Sector

j. Suwannee River Economic Council

k. American Red Cross – Alachua Chapter

l. Other impacted agencies within Levy County

2. Year-Round Public Information Activities
a. News releases to include shelter maps, evacuation routes and tips for mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
b. Participation in fairs, festivals and other public activities, with displays and materials for distribution.
c. Public outreach presentations to community, fraternal, religious, business, sporting, agriculture, school and other community groups.
d. Brochures and flyers for distribution through retail establishments, public buildings, schools, churches, Levy County Agriculture Extension Agency, Levy County Health Department and other information outlets.
e. In coordination with the Levy County School District and Agriculture Extension Agency, produce materials in languages other than English.
G. Response Actions
1. Assessment
ESF 14 will receive and analyze information from local and state sources. Functioning as a clearinghouse for information, ESF 14 will:
a. Assure that the most important information receives priority.
b. Assure that all available resources are utilized in the release of public information.
c. Avoid, or minimize, unnecessary effort and duplication
d. Seek pertinent information for release from the primary and support agencies, and community at large.
e. Help minimize and correct mistaken information or rumors.

2. Rumor Control
ESF-14 will establish a Citizens Information Line/Rumor Control telephone number for inquiries and rumor control. The telephone number is published in printed materials of the Levy County Emergency Management.

Citizens Information Line/Rumor Control

(352) 486-5155
3. Specific Measures
Vulnerable Residents - Residents of vulnerable areas will be notified of such during the pre-incident public information efforts. During response, the residents will be contacted with additional information using the news media and/or neighborhood contact. Door to door warning by law enforcement will be used if necessary. During recovery and mitigation special campaigns may be developed based on the existing needs and available resources. A phone or email blast may be sent as well.
Evacuation and Shelter Information will be disseminated during the pre-incident public information campaign. Post incident, additional and updated information will be made available through:
a. The news media

b. Posters placed in public buildings

c. The offices of primary and support agencies may be used to distribute public information

d. Portable signs located along roads

e. Caller information requests received by the ESF-14 Citizens Information Line.

f. Field response personnel will furnish information within their capabilities. The operators of emergency response vehicles and county owned vehicles should attempt to carry shelter location and evacuation route maps with them.

g. As a last resort, the use of public address systems by law enforcement and volunteer fire departments may be used.

h. Pre-scripted public service announcements and news releases, in both English and Spanish, are available in the Agricultural Extension Agency Emergency Plan, prepared by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Science.

b. Recreational vehicle campgrounds

c. Hunting and fishing camps

d. Motels/Hotels

management.

b. Levy County Agricultural Extension Service

c. Levy County School District

d. Suwannee River Economic Council

e. Religious and social service organizations
I. Persons with Special Needs
1. Levy County Emergency Management will use the Special Needs Database to identify and register persons with special needs.
2. The pre-incident public information campaign will target this audience. Social service organizations, Levy County Health Department and home health agencies will support with the identification of persons with special needs and dissemination of information to the Persons with Special Needs (PSN) population.
3. Post-incident information dissemination will utilize the same procedures as for the general population.
4. ESF-1 drivers serving special needs clients may carry check lists or tip sheets and other forms of information for special needs persons.
5. Levy County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) may carry checklists and tip sheets for special needs persons.
6. Health care facilities, doctors’ offices, home health agencies, pharmacies and others who serve the special needs residents may serve as distribution points of information.
7. The special needs shelters may be used as dissemination points for recovery information.
8. Visually Impaired
There are relatively few visually impaired persons in Levy County. They are identified in the Special Needs Database. These persons will be kept informed utilizing:
a. All the resources and methods identified in this section.

b. Emphasis will be placed on those methods involving personal contact.

c. Visually impaired will be encouraged to listen to radio, television and cable news reports.

d. Individual contact by ESF-16 (Law Enforcement) when the pre-identified person is considered to be a live threatening situation.

c. Persons with signing capability will be identified and used for pre-incident outreach and post-incident communications efforts.

 Levy County Property Appraiser

 Levy County Tax Collector

 Levy County Health Department

 Levy County Development Department

 Levy County Agriculture Extension Agency

 Levy County School District

 Levy County Emergency Management

 Chambers of Commerce

 Other social service, religious and business organizations

 Levy County Courthouse - Bronson

 Municipal buildings - City Halls and Community Centers

 Levy County Agriculture Extension Agency

b. Levy County participants may be those organizations identified for CICs.

c. Possible sites include:

 Levy County Courthouse

 Levy County Agriculture Extension Agency

 Municipal buildings - City Halls and Community Centers