Public safety is an integral part of society. Communities rely on Public Information Officers (PIO) during disasters to ensure operations run smoothly.

PIOs are tasked with informing the public of continually evolving reports of new disaster updates and how they impact the community. The role of a PIO is extremely important for maintaining safety and preventing panic at both the local government level. Here’s a look into their responsibilities and how technology like Comcate keeps their communities safe.

PIO Responsibilities

Public Information Officers (PIO) work for local governments to create clear communication between the media, the public, and government. PIOs must share information in a way that is completely accurate and abides by compliance.

They write press releases, draft speeches, arrange interviews for government officials, and respond to requests for information from media outlets. The role of a PIO can be executed by one person or as a team.

Communicating information with the public is the most important job function of a PIO. Making sure residents of a municipality understand the events that unfold during severe weather, and non-emergency scenarios like road closures is vital.

PIOs are also an important part of emergency response teams. They collect and verify information both during and in the aftermath of emergencies, as well as coordinate responses by the government.

Technology Like Comcate Used by PIOs to Ensure Emergency Preparedness Across Communities

PIOs must be able to communicate efficiently while maintaining details. However, they often face the challenge of gathering disaster reporting quickly and efficiently. Relying on technology like Comcate can make their job duties much easier when collecting community reporting through our Citizen Relationship Management 311 solution.

Additionally automated follow ups with those reporting incidents can help PIOs keep their residents informed with no additional effort. Comcate’s platform allows for residents to be notified via text message and emails.

Because a large majority of public safety relies upon communication from PIOs, old systems that only use website warnings or physical sirens are not efficient enough methods of communication. They need a way to follow up with  entire communities when case submission volumes are high regardless of the emergency or situation.

When technology is outdated, the role of a PIO and public safety are compromised.

How PIOs Can Improve Their Emergency Response

PIOs want to help their municipalities and build relationships with emergency-response teams before disaster situations arise. 

Comcate’s Citizen Relationship Management 311 software can bridge the gaps between PIOs, emergency responders, and communities by:

• Driving positive engagement with automated follow up communication on submissions

• Enhance safety by identifying hazards that have been submitted, enabling fast action and lessening responses times to achieve an all-clear status

• Optimize emergency response by verifying areas in the community in need of help and enlisting the proper resources

• Providing post-event analysis and planning

Collaborating with citizen submissions means emergency personnel will be able to leverage data for a more coordinated response.

Enhance Public Safety With Comcate’s CRM/311

Comcate’s CRM/311 software makes it easy for PIOs to effectively do their jobs and play their part in keeping the public safe. The software works by utilizing multiple methods of citizen submissions, and automated follow up , enhancing crucial emergency resources and planning information, and faster responses from emergency responders — all while making the job role of a PIO much easier and more effective.

Schedule a Meeting with Comcate Today!

Learn how Comcate can help make government delivery simple, and offer a modern digital experience to help you increase transparency, efficiency, and performance across your departments. If you have any questions about implementing our software, please fill out the form below or call us directly at (415) 632-1248.

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