Media Protocol for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Group Sites
Excellent communication programs are built on transparency, clear guidance, simple rules, and stakeholder involvement. These principles are fundamental to FEMA’s reputation, integrity and credibility.
We engage daily with our federal, state and local partners to respond to disasters and media will be understandably interested in what we are doing. We must leverage this interest to educate the public about their personal responsibilities, as well as the federal, state and local responsibilities, during disasters.
The following guidance is effective immediately for media entrance to FEMA group sites. All site management and security staff should familiarize themselves with these policies.
All media requesting entry into a FEMA mobile home or travel trailer group site must have personal photo identification with matching press credentials that identify them.
When media arrive at a group site, they must sign in with the responsible security officer. They are to sign out when they depart the site.
The security officer will allow unescorted entry to the site and notify the responsible public affairs news desk or public information officer of media arrival at the site.
Once entry is gained, visiting media may speak to those residents who desire to be interviewed. Media should respect the right of residents who decline to be interviewed.
Media may have unescorted entry into residents’ trailers if they are invited by the residents.
FEMA public information officers may serve as facilitators to the degree that residents are willing to speak to media. The fact that a public information officer is not available cannot be a reason to deny media access to the group site.
Refer all media who have follow-up questions or who wish to speak to a FEMA representative to the FEMA News Desk.
Source: Email of John P. "Pat" Philbin, Director of Communications, Office of Public Affairs, Federal Emergency Management Agency, sent to Reporters Committee on July 25, 2006.