Victoria Information network strengthens communication | Community News

When breaking news hits Victoria, a select group of individuals are tasked with ensuring community members are informed and aware. Public Information Officers (PIOs) across the county are dedicated to alerting residents when major events in the region occur.

Local PIOs from a number of different establishments in Victoria were joined together by the Victoria Office of Emergency Management (VOEM) for a conference to strengthen collaboration and communication between local, regional and state PIOs. This conference was the first of its kind in Victoria, though there are existing PIO networks in larger surrounding cities.

“In high-pressure situations, trying to track down the right contact information can delay critical messaging,” Lauren Meaux, VOEM Public Safety Communications Coordinator, said. “By creating this network now, we aim for better coordination and more timely communication during future incidents.”

The idea for the first Victoria PIO conference came from a need to establish strong relationships between departments and local entities before an emergency happens, Meaux said. Rick McBrayer, emergency management coordinator, Jena Banda, deputy emergency management coordinator and Meaux developed the new PIO network to meet on a quarterly basis.

The VOEM team discussed their roles and responsibilities at the inaugural meeting. PIOs in attendance had the chance to connect with one another, build lasting relationships between organizations and exchange contact information to strengthen future communication.

PIOs and communications specialists in attendance represented some of the most impactful agencies in the Victoria community: Victoria ISD, University of Houston–Victoria, Victoria College, Caterpillar, The City of Victoria, Victoria Police Department, Victoria Fire Department and Fire Marshal, Lavaca Medical Center, Port Lavaca, Our Lady of Victory, Detar Hospital, Region 3, Goliad ISD, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, STRAC and the Victoria County Public Health Department.

Victoria County judge Ben Zeller also attended the conference. VOEM received many emails from other agencies who were not able to attend the first meeting but plan to be present for future conferences.

“By building strong connections now, we’re setting ourselves up to communicate faster, clearer, and more effectively when it really counts,” Meaux said. “For the public, the best way to stay informed is to follow local agencies on social media, sign up for emergency alerts and check official websites for updates.”

Residents looking for additional information about VOEM can visit the Victoria County website. Residents are encouraged to follow the VOEM social media accounts and sign up for emergency alerts by using CodeRED and texting “ALERTVICTORIA” to 99411.