Public Information/Media

The Incident Commander, working with police, fire and other civilian authorities, is responsible for the control and direction of emergency operations.

When a disaster or emergency condition is reported to the Office of the Superintendent-President, the Superintendent-President or her/his designee (e.g., the Night Duty Administrator) will initiate appropriate action for the protection of the health and safety of students and staff.

The actions listed in this Guide and the professional judgment of the designated person in charge and the Operations Chief shall serve as a guide.

Only telephone calls related to the control of the emergency situation shall be placed in order to avoid tying up phone lines.

Summoning assistance from appropriate civil authorities should be done if at all possible by one of the persons designated as an authority; otherwise, the person most convenient to the telephone at the time of the occurrence should immediately place the call.

MEDIA

Requests from news media will be referred to the Office of the Superintendent-President (campus extension 3400) or the Public Information Office (campus extension 3414).  Only authorized spokespersons will meet with or talk to the media during emergencies.

Decisions on contacting the media and providing public information will be made by the Superintendent-President in conference with the Public Information Office and other appropriate persons.

Names of injured students or staff will not be available to the news media until contact has been made with appropriate family members.  Only factual information will be released; no speculation will be offered.  The Public Information Office will arrange and coordinate a press center or press conference when appropriate, with the approval of the Superintendent-President.

All management and supervisory personnel are to report problems related to the emergency to the Office of the Superintendent-President and the Operations Chief.  Information to include: what it is, how it began, who is involved, what is happening now and what help is needed.

Estimates of dollar damage will be made only by the Superintendent-President or the Dean of Business Services.

Media representatives will be allowed on campus to gather information during and after a disaster.  While Penal Code 409.5 authorizes closing scenes of accidents or disasters to the general public, it states that this does not prevent representatives of news organizations from having access to gather information for news.  However, the scene of a crime or tactical operation may be closed to media as well as the general public.