PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — The Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services has named two of the county’s communications experts as public information officers for the Emergency Operations Center.
Chris Formisano is the County Communications Director, and Shanna Siegel, RN, is the Supervising Public Health Educator at the County Department of Health. They will work with county departments, local agencies, and community partners to coordinate and disseminate critical information in and about emergencies.
“Their combined experience and dedication to public service will greatly benefit our community, especially during times of crisis,” Bureau of Emergency Services Commissioner Bob Lipton said in an announcement about the appointments. “Effective communication is key to managing emergencies, and I am confident that Chris and Shanna will excel in this capacity.”
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Both Formisano and Siegel have completed over 100 combined hours of training, on top of their many years of county government experience (enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic).
“I found that the advanced training opportunities helped better equip me for complex and unexpected disasters and the diverse needs and expectations that come along with those crises. The trainings allow participants time to practice skillful incorporation of the principles of the National Incident Management System alongside crisis and risk communication best practices,” Siegel told Patch. “One of the most vital yet almost hidden components of public information in an emergency services role is understanding that crisis and risk communication are always happening, even before an emergency occurs. During critical events, each person’s experience and emotional response matter, and will also influence the way they process information. Building community trust and establishing reliable and accessible channels of communication are essential.
“I am looking forward to working alongside Chris in this role.”
This marks the first time the Bureau will have formally trained PIOs occupying the role.
“The safety and well-being of our residents are of utmost importance. By assigning Chris and Shanna as the Bureau’s official PIOs, we are reinforcing our commitment to transparent and timely communication,” said County Executive Kevin Byrne. “Their proven track records and extensive training will ensure that our community receives accurate and essential information during emergencies. I look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have in these roles.”
They completed six Emergency Management Institute FEMA classes and three levels of New York State Emergency Management PIO training.
“These trainings have a reputation for being boring, repetitive, but I have to say, my experience was quite the opposite. I found it compelling and very helpful for navigating the incident command structure of first responders and emergency situations,” Formisano told Patch. “At the higher level, the trainings were surprisingly comprehensive. I don’t come from a first responder background, so my life experience was very different from that of most of the individuals I was taking classes with. It was great to learn from them while going through a number of scenarios.
“The biggest difference is balancing the speed at which you have to operate. In an emergency, you’re often in situations where decision making is happening fast without as much information as you’re used to. So judgement calls have to be made about how much information to share, and when it’s most appropriate.”
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