The Public Information Assist Team (PIAT), established at Coast Guard Headquarters in 1978 as one of the special forces mandated in the National Contingency Plan, is an element of the National Strike Force, and is currently located at the National Strike Force Coordination Center.

Four highly-trained crisis communications professionals provide emergency public information services to Federal On-Scene Coordinators primarily during oil spills and hazardous material releases. The team also provides these services for natural disasters, domestic terrorism events and weapons of mass destruction events.

Team personnel teach risk communications and media relations techniques, as well as ICS-based Joint Information Center organization and Public Information Officer operations to response community personnel from the Coast Guard, other federal agencies, state and local agencies and industry. Additionally, PIAT assists in the scenario development of Coast Guard pollution response exercises and participates as players or evaluators during federal- and industry-led exercises.