Emergency public information : A quick response study of coalinga

ABSTRACT

This report summarizes the findings of a quick response team that investigated the dissemination of public information following the May 1983 Coalinga earthquake. In particular, the researchers examined how the disaster information system emerged, how news media representatives interacted with the designated emergency public information officer (PIO), what topics were discussed, and what changes occurred in the content of these interactions. Their findingd underscore the changing nature of both the information network and the information conveyed, as well as the difficulties faced by a PIO. They conclude by offering separate sets of recomendations for PIO's emergency managers, and the news media. (AU)