JIC is a collocated group of
representatives from agencies and organizations involved in an event that
are designated to handle public information needs. The JIC structure is
designed to work equally well for large or small situations and can expand
or contract to meet the needs of the incident.
When multiple public or private
agencies and organizations come together to respond to an emergency or
manage an event, efficient information flow is critical to effectively
carrying out emergency public information responsibilities and meeting the
expectations of various publics. A JIC is a centralized “communication hub”
that serves to achieve that information flow.
Establishing a JIC, developing
processes and procedures, and training staff on how to operate a JIC
effectively allow response organizations to be more proactive in responding
to the information needs of responders, the public, federal, state and local
governments, foreign governments, and industry.
Different agencies (including state,
local, and other entities) involved in a response can work in a cohesive
manner, enabling them to “speak with one voice.” By maintaining a
centralized communication facility, resources can be better managed and
duplication of effort is minimized. Finally, the use of a JIC allows for
tracking and maintaining records and information more accurately—therefore,
improving the ability to conduct post-incident assessments that can be used
to improve crisis communication and general response activities during
future incidents JIC personnel should wear either identifying clothing or
badges so they are readily identifiable by responders and members of the
media and the public.
