The Public Information Officer is primarily responsible for which of the following tasks?

The primary responsibility of the Public Information Officer (PIO) is to handle media relations. This role is essential in ensuring accurate and timely information is communicated to the public and the media during an emergency. The PIO serves as the primary spokesperson for the organization, working to provide updates and information that can help manage public perception and response to the situation at hand. Effective communication by the PIO can greatly influence the public's response and trust in the organization, particularly during a crisis.

In contrast, advising on technical resources, managing financial costs, and activating emergency plans fall under the purview of other roles within emergency management. For example, those with expertise in incident management or logistics would typically handle technical resources, while financial officers would manage costs. Likewise, the activation of emergency plans is generally the responsibility of incident commanders or emergency management leaders. Thus, the PIO's focused role on media relations distinguishes it from these other important functions.