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Date: 02/26/96 Revision: 07/01/22 Reviewed: 05/14/24 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: GEN 119.03 Page : 1 of 2 SUBJECT: NEWS/MEDIA RELATIONS DURING DISASTERS * I. PURPOSE : The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to define responsibilities, procedures, and tasks for the Public Affairs Office during times of extreme emergencies such as hurricanes, civil disturbances, and other catastrophic events. II. SCOPE : This procedure shall apply to Public Affairs Office personnel . III. DISCUSSION : Unified, non-conflicting, accurate, and timely information is an absolute necessity during times of extreme emergencies , such as hurricanes, that threaten the public safety. At the direction of the Sheriff, the Public Affairs Office shall gather and prepare information of legitimate public interest for dissemination via the varied news media. IV. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES : A. The Public Affairs Office shall report directly to the Sheriff , or designee , during emergency situations. During Phase III Emergency Operations, the Department of Patrol Services Commander is the designated media spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. B. During impending and/or actual catastrophic events, the Public Affairs Office shall perform the following functions: 1. Establish contact with local news agencies and provide timely information concerning emergency situations. 2. Establish contact with other agencies' public information officers responsible for various activities related to the emergency situation (e.g., Tampa Police Department, Emergency Operations Center, etc.). 3. Maintain contact with the Sheriff's Office Communications Bureau and the Sheriff's Emergency Command Center. 4. Relay, via news media, special bulletins, instructions, and other messages request ed by bona fide agencies or their official representatives. 5. Respond to media requests for available information and, whenever possible, gather media information requests not readily available from first-hand sources. 6. When possible and upon request from Sheriff’s Office personnel, travel to damaged areas and/or disaster scenes to coordinate with news media covering the scene. 7. When directed by the Sheriff, contact the media for special public messages from the Sheriff , or designee. 8. Provi de instructions and/or information pertaining to Sheriff's Office law enforcement activities as necessary. C. The Public Affairs Office shall be responsible for information gathering , preparation, and dissemination to news media representatives during times of extreme emergencies , such as hurricanes or other potential catastrophic events. During such catastrophic events, the Public Affairs Office shall: 1. Report directly to the Sheriff , or designee , during times of extreme emergency. GEN 119.03 07/01/22 Page 2 of 2 2. Notify all agencies responsible for various activities related to extreme emergency situations (e.g., Bureau of Emergency Management, EMS, Tampa Police, hospitals, fire departments, utilities companies) phone number, radio contact procedure, and mobile phone number. 3. Notify all news media organizations of the Public Affairs Office on-call phone number, and contact procedure. 4. Ensure contact with the Sheriff's Office Communications Bureau supervisor on duty to maintain a constant flow of pertinent factual information for processing and dissemination to the news media in an accurate and timely fashion (such information includes hazardous events and conditions, damages, unusual events, and other information generated by Sheriff's Office field forces). 5. Receive and relay, via news media, any special bulletins, instructions, and other messages requested by bona fide agencies or their official representatives. 6. Respond to media requests for available information and seek, gather, and process media information requests not readily available from first-hand sources, whenever possible. 7. When possible and upon request for Sheriff's Office personnel, travel to damaged areas and/or disaster scenes to liaison with the media. 8. When directed, contact the media for special public interest/service messages from the Sheriff or other Sheriff's Office officials representing the Sheriff. 9. Provide