CEM CEM Public Information, Warning & Communications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: IPAWS stands for:
- Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (Correct answer)
- Interstate Public Agency Warning Standard
- Incident Planning and Warning Software
- Integrated Post-disaster Assessment and Warning System
Correct answer: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System
IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) is FEMA's national system that aggregates and distributes alerts through EAS, WEA, NOAA Weather Radio, and other pathways.
Question 2: Which principle states that emergency managers should communicate with the public early, even if all information is not yet confirmed?
- Delayed disclosure principle
- Be First, Be Right, Be Credible principle (Correct answer)
- Precautionary principle
- Information saturation principle
Correct answer: Be First, Be Right, Be Credible principle
The 'Be First, Be Right, Be Credible' principle of CERC holds that getting information out quickly, even if incomplete, prevents rumor spread and builds public trust.
Question 3: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), emergency communications must:
- Only be accessible to those who register for alerts in advance
- Be accessible to people with disabilities, including hearing and vision impairments (Correct answer)
- Follow state-by-state standards for accessibility
- Be provided in the official language of the jurisdiction only
Correct answer: Be accessible to people with disabilities, including hearing and vision impairments
ADA requires that emergency communications be equally accessible to people with disabilities, meaning alerts must include captioning, ASL interpretation, and accessible formats.
Question 4: Which term describes the process of tailoring emergency messages to specific community subgroups such as non-English speakers or elderly residents?
- Risk segmentation
- Targeted risk communication (Correct answer)
- Audience segmentation
- Demographic compliance
Correct answer: Targeted risk communication
Targeted risk communication involves crafting and distributing messages specifically designed for distinct subgroups to ensure warnings are understood and acted upon by the whole community.
Question 5: What is 'rumor control' and why is it important during a disaster?
- A legal process to prevent false reporting by media outlets
- Actively monitoring and correcting misinformation to prevent panic and maintain public trust (Correct answer)
- A FEMA grant program for communication infrastructure
- The process of delaying information release to prevent social media speculation
Correct answer: Actively monitoring and correcting misinformation to prevent panic and maintain public trust
Rumor control involves proactively identifying and correcting false information circulating in the public sphere, which is critical for maintaining trust and ensuring the public takes appropriate protective actions.
Question 6: The 'message map' technique in emergency risk communication is used to:
- Plot geographic areas requiring evacuation
- Organize key messages into a hierarchical structure for rapid, clear communication with media and public (Correct answer)
- Map communication infrastructure across jurisdictions
- Track which media outlets have received official press releases
Correct answer: Organize key messages into a hierarchical structure for rapid, clear communication with media and public
A message map is a visual tool that organizes up to three key messages per stakeholder question, with supporting facts for each, enabling consistent and rapid spokesperson communication.
CEM CEM Public Information, Warning & Communications 2
IPAWS stands for: