Hear from two of our PIM Managers about their vital role in keeping Waimakariri residents updated with accurate information during emergency events.
The Public Information Management (PIM) Manager in Waimakariri’s Civil Defence team plays a vital role in keeping our community informed and safe during emergencies. Working within the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), they coordinate with the Controller and other teams to ensure clear, accurate updates are shared across all channels. Leading a team of media, social media, and information officers, the PIM Manager helps our community stay confident and well-prepared as situations unfold.
Hear more from our two PIM Managers at Waimakariri District Council below.
Alistair, PIM Manager
- What is the role of a Public Information Manager during a civil defence emergency?
As a Public Information Manager (PIM) you put out regular, timely, useful updates for people affected by a natural disaster by harnessing news-media and social media.
Your ‘news’ provides people the information they need to make decisions during or after an event. If someone needs to evacuate their home due to an imminent flood, the information you send out is what will help them make that decision.
- What led you to become a PIM and how did you prepare for this role?
I started my career working for newspapers, so I’ve always been pretty good at quickly putting together a story to tight deadlines. When I moved into Public Relations this skillset lended itself well to being a Public Information Manager.
- Can you describe a memorable or challenging emergency situation you’ve been involved in and the part you played?
Anytime you send out an Emergency Mobile Alert (an alert to all cell phones within a certain area) is quite stressful because you know that the alerts are for serious events and your communication is critical for people to hear.
- What key qualities or skills do you think are essential for a PIM during a civil defence emergency?
You’ve got to be able to cut through the noise and keep the community front of mind. There is often lots of information being thrown at you, and it’s your role to cut it down to what matters, and what will help people.
- How do you ensure effective coordination and communication among different teams during an emergency?
Communication is always the most effective kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) so talking to people directly during an emergency response is the best way to stay up to date with what’s happening and make sure the community get the information they need to know asap.
- What advice would you give to the community about preparing for and responding to emergencies?
It’s important to know what hazards are unique to where you live. Every household or family should also have a plan for how you might deal with a natural disaster and a grab bag ready to go.
Sara, PIM Manager
- What is the role of a PIM Manager during a civil defence emergency?
A Public Information Manager or PIM is responsible for working with the other teams inside the Emergency Operations Centre to provide the most up-to-date information to the community about an event. It’s the PIM Team’s job to make sure that information is really clear, easy to understand and easy to find so that people can make the best and most informed choices for them and their families during a Civil Defence emergency.
- What led you to become a PIM Manger and how did you prepare for this role?
The PIM role is closely aligned to my day job as a Communications and Engagement Advisor however emergency communication is a bit different so to prepare I’ve done a lot of courses through Civil Defence. These courses have prepared me for the EOC environment - understanding how things operate differently to my normal organisational structure and the many organisations involved, and what information is most important for people during an emergency.
- Can you describe a memorable or challenging emergency situation you’ve been involved in and how you managed it?
Flooding is always challenging, and unfortunately our most common event in the Waimakariri. I’ve been involved in flooding events where the situation has changed rapidly and therefore the advice has changed just as quickly. It’s really important in these scenarios to manage your stress and use all the resources at your disposal to get the word out, especially when there’s rivers rising and streets flooding – and trust that you’re supported by a great team who are all working tirelessly to keep people and property safe wherever possible.
- What key qualities or skills do you think are essential for a PIM Manager during a civil defence emergency?
To be a PIM you need to have a good eye for detail and be able to pull out key information that people might need. It’s equally important to then be able to put that information into plain language so that everyone can understand what’s going on and what they need to do. And finally, being calm under pressure – it’s absolutely chaotic in an event so being able to methodically process what you need to do is vital.
- How do you ensure effective coordination and communication among different teams during an emergency?
As PIM we’re in constant communication with the other EOC teams, particularly Welfare, Operations and Intelligence, to both get and give information that we’re receiving. There are a lot of systems in place that are constantly being updated to ensure we’re getting real-time information but having productive relationships with your shift teams is critical. We also meet with the Controller regularly to make sure that any information being shared is appropriate, accurate and takes into consideration the bigger picture.
- What advice would you give to the community about preparing for and responding to emergencies?
We can do everything in our power to let you know about a potential emergency event but ultimately everyone has a personal responsibility to be prepared. Don’t wait until an emergency to start preparing – get your emergency kit ready now.
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