Disaster Assistance

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

INTRODUCTION: The success of JTF Andrew public affairs was also the shared success of the Total Army public affairs. Volunteers from U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) public affairs detachments augmented the JTF Public Affairs Office (PAO), the FEMA Joint Information Center (JIC), and the broadcasting staff of Radio Recovery. Prior to integrating the Reserve Components, the early deployment of active duty public affairs elements was key in keeping the media informed in a crisis situation while obtaining the logistical support necessary to establish the JIC.

The media relations tempo in this operation was quicker than in previous joint task force humanitarian assistance missions. Reporters used their own equipment, were mobile and had unrestricted access to the relief operations. These variables presented a significant public information challenge, which public affairs units successfully met.

TOPIC: Role of Public Affairs.

DISCUSSION: Public affairs personnel provided timely information on the relief activities of all uniformed services and spoke with one voice during continuous coordination of the issues. This was crucial early in the operation when disseminating crisis information. It provided public confidence in the military's ability to provide disaster assistance. As military leaders collocated with civilian leaders in the affected areas, public affairs officers collocated with their counterparts. The result was a visible signal to the media of the high degree of the civil-military team's commitment in doing what was necessary to provide relief.

The American people's impression of a JTF humanitarian assistance mission, where the media is unrestricted, depends on what they see and hear on television and radio news, and what they read in newspapers and national news magazines. The public's perception of the JTF's success depends largely on the success of the JTF's public information campaign.

LESSON(S):

a. Early deployment relates to early management of crisis information.

b. The JIC should be collocated with the JTF PAO whenever possible.

c. PAOs require special logistical support, such as televisions, VCRs, fax machines, and dedicated phone and fax lines.

TOPIC: Public Affairs Broadcasts.

DISCUSSION: The 4th PSYOP Group established an AM radio station in the Homestead, Florida, area, known as Radio Recovery. The JTF gave away 20,000 radios to the civilian population and broadcast information about the relief effort in several languages. Volunteers from USAR public affairs detachments were used as Radio Recovery broadcasters.

LESSON(S):

a. Take great care when combining public affairs and PSYOPS personnel to avoid negative publicity by the media.

b. Public affairs broadcasters can effectively assist public information efforts by helping staff PSYOP AM radio stations.

TOPIC: USAR Public Affairs Volunteers.

DISCUSSION: Eight volunteers from Hawaii's 305th Public Affairs Detachment were activated. The eight personnel were the only reservists activated in the JTF. Three stayed on Oahu with the JTF PAO or with the state EOC. Five deployed to the island of Kauai where they were task-organized into a Public Affairs Team (PAT) by the JTF PAO Forward. During the relief effort, the PAT covered topics for the newsletter it created. This coverage enabled the PAO to use the newsletter as background material for interested civilian reporters. As relief turned to recovery, the newsletter filled the void left by the decrease in coverage by the civilian press.

LESSON(S):USAR public affairs volunteers can effectively task-organize and serve as a Public Affairs Team. JTF PAOs should consider using USAR volunteers.

TOPIC: Public Affairs Broadcasters.

DISCUSSION: Radio KONG was the only commercial radio station operable on Kauai after Hurricane Iniki hit. PSYOPS teams were not deployed for the Iniki relief effort and, as a result, the JTF had no public information broadcast capability. A broadcaster from JTF PAO Forward collocated with Radio KONG and broadcasted pertinent information twice daily about the JTF relief effort. The JTF did not distribute radios to the population as it did in Florida because there was no need. The communications infrastructure was not as damaged on Kauai as it was in Florida after Hurricane Andrew. Although radio broadcasts from Oahu could reach Kauai, collocating a military broadcaster with commercial media was effective in gaining rapport with the affected population.

LESSON(S): Collocating at least one public affairs broadcaster with a commercial broadcast outlet can communicate the military message to the affected civilian population during disaster assistance efforts.

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