Central Florida Communicators Meeting Focuses on Orlando United Day and Emergency Preparedness
Communication professionals from the across Central Florida met recently at Orange County’s Emergency Operations Center to discuss key 2017 updates such as the Zika virus, the hurricane season and Orlando United Day | A Day of Love and Kindness, the one-year remembrance of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy.
The Central Florida Communications Meeting, attended by more than 50 communicators and public information officers (PIO) from area hospitals, municipalities, universities, regional transportation and mobility agencies, theme parks and hospitality organizations is hosted quarterly by Orange County’s Communications Division as part of the County’s emergency preparedness planning.
The group’s keynote speaker was Danny Banks, Special Agent in Charge for Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Orlando Region. His presentation, “Trends in Terrorism: How Communications can Help and Harm,” outlined best practices during emergency situations and terrorism incidents.
“As law enforcement agencies, public entities and nonprofit organizations, we must be transparent even during the most difficult times,” Special Agent Banks told communicators. “We should be prepared to tell our stories with transparency and accuracy.”
Orange County also shared that it would continue to monitor the status of mosquito-borne illnesses during the rainy summer months, the prime mosquito season in Central Florida. Orange County Mosquito Control remains vigilant in monitoring the Zika virus to help minimize the potential spread of this virus and continues to promote its public safety campaign. There are currently 46 cases of Zika in the state of Florida. In order to keep these illnesses from spreading, residents are encouraged to “Tip, Toss and Cover” to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses.
For more information on storm preparedness and hurricane safety, visit Orange County’s hurricane and emergency information webpage and download Orange County’s free smartphone applications.
Citizens are encouraged to register for mobile app and email emergency notifications. The OC ALERT is an alert system that allows Orange County Government to contact you via email or cell phone text message during an emergency affecting Orange County. Register free-of-charge for OCAlert.
The OCFL Alert is a first-of-its-kind emergency notification and information smartphone app that provides critical information during an emergency like a hurricane. Life-saving information includes open shelter locations, water and ice distribution centers, evacuation routes, public service announcements and much more. Download the OCFL Alert on Android and Apple mobile devices.