A public affairs specialist for FEMA plays an important role in the ability of the organization to handle campaigns, relief efforts, and planning and preparation for disasters and disaster relief. By working with other staff members, professionals, and related organizations and agencies, the FEMA public affairs specialist is responsible for everything from coordination of efforts to conveying communications to the public.
An Overview of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, an important organization of the United States federal government, is commonly referred to as FEMA. Since 1979, this organization has provided a national ability to coordinate and plan services to both prepare for and respond to disasters around the country. The responsibilities of FEMA include everything from predicting possible disaster situations to coordinating relief and response efforts of first responder personnel, government agencies, and community organizations to providing assistance to survivors of disasters.
The scope of FEMA includes everything from financial loans to communities and individuals to recover from natural disasters to training of first responder personnel in everything from handling natural disasters and attacks with weapons of mass destruction. Additional information on the role of FEMA in all types of disasters can be found at FEMA’s website.
Communicating With the Public
To be effective, FEMA must employ a number of different types of professionals. This includes everything from technical advisors to trainers to administrators. Among these professionals, the public affairs specialist is part of the communications team, working to disseminate news and information as well as to coordinate efforts among agencies.
The dissemination of news is a particularly important part of the FEMA public affairs specialist position. In addition to preparing press releases to inform the public of the progress of disaster relief efforts and new policies or information pertaining to the organization itself, the public affairs specialist is also communicator of potential dangers and hazards that the public may face. As such, it is essential for public affairs specialists to clearly relay all information to the public about the danger itself and what steps should be taken to prepare.
The public affairs specialist for FEMA is also likely to handle a majority of the publications of the organization, including those published on the FEMA website. This task often requires interviewing, researching, and gathering information. The public affairs specialist will ultimately be responsible for building and maintaining much of the media and public image of the organization.
Related Resource: Public Health Advisor
Internal and Inter-Agency Communications
A large part of the efforts of FEMA is to coordinate services in order to best help those who have been affected by disasters and other emergency situations. Within this task, public affairs specialists with FEMA are required to disseminate information to other organizations and prepare reports for all relief efforts, preparedness plans, and other necessary communications.
With a passion for words and an interest in getting information out to the people who need it, a professional in the public affairs division of FEMA must be prepared to take on a number of possibilities. The public affairs specialist for FEMA has a key role in communicating with everyone from other agency representatives to disaster relief personnel to the general public.