For those that wanted to know, here’s my disaster deployment stuff ready to go.
Backpack: 511Tactical RUSH 24-hour.
Rollerboard: Travel Pro MaxLite-3
Pelican case(s): 1510 Pelican cases (both admissible as carry on luggage on any domestic airline)
Large rolling duffel: Columbia Storm Chaser. Normally, I put the boots in the outside boot pocket of the large duffel, but I wanted to give you some size context.
Hope this helps out.
Third and final day of the Ohio EMA ICS-300 course at Belmont College.
PhotoCredit: @BelmontCollege
Mid morning, we had lots of great discussion for formal demobilization plans as well priority release procedures.
Our class had some serious discussion on cost vs expectations on resources. If you’ve ever been deployed to a disaster, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Rounding out to the last module, almost test time!
After the class was over, I was able to score a visit to Belmont County 911 dispatch center for our class. So I invited the whole class to attend too!
Special thanks to Mr. Hudak for the tour and detailed explanation on normal operations in their Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) / 911 call center.
Our class then moved over to the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency where our class was given a formal tour of their Emergency Operation Center (EOC).
They just happen to be monitoring Hurricane Matthew – so that made it even better for all participants to see how this EOC can monitor any situation in real time. Thank you Belmont County EMA!
Positions ready…Executive Policy Room ready…ARES Comms center ready…fully operational…who could ask for anything more?!!?!? Even the bonus resources they have were great to see how they could support operations and paint a better picture to increase situational awareness / common operating picture (SA/COP).
Gah, I see this EOC being a great resource for many all hazards partners in public safety.
Great to showcase the efforts of local emergency management professionals and how they pair with Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA).
Special thanks to Glenn Trudo and Belmont College for being such gracious hosts for the OEMA ICS-300 class.
Day-2 of the Ohio EMA ICS-300 course at Belmont College (Ohio).
Participants completed several exercises with S.M.A.R.T. Objectives, finding the right strategy with the right tactic to complete the objective with the right resource – all part of the Planning-P.
These kinds of activities during non-emergency times will help increase skills of any public safety provider as we look to coordinate all-hazards response prior to a disaster or emergency. Additionally, I was able to showcase the PIO function as it pertains to a school fire (this is an exercise).
So many different agencies in this class!
Great partnerships collaborating together before an emergency!
First day of Ohio EMA’s ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents class.
With so many VIPs here from various agencies, I’m on my best behavior. Participants from three different states (Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia). Numerous higher education staff, Fire/EMS and law enforcement, Health Department, VOAD, and Federal agencies like the Department of Justice US Marshal Service.
Special thanks to the senior administration from Belmont College for hosting this state class.
Lots of engagement and spirited discussion esp focused on college campus safety. Outstanding!
Solid debate on unified command as well as resource ordering.
Trying to get “stuff” to support operations is tough. Delicate balance between command and general staff is important and critical.
But more importantly, we are building relationships before an event, an emergency, or a disaster.
Doing some long gun work today.
Today’s training: working on transitions and equipment failures.
Training for complications in the field will allow for a seamless correction while deployed out. Inevitably, stuff will not always go 100% – so we must prepare for all contingencies.
Hoping to do more in 4Q and more training in 2017.
I field numerous questions about flashlights. Like alotta.
“Do you really need more than one flashlight?”
“Do I have to purchase an expensive flashlight?”
“Does a good flashlight make a difference?”
“Does your daughter even have her own flashlight?”
Let me be clear and answer all of the above. Yes x4.
Because equipment needs will vary depending on the user, find flashlights that work best for you.
Big or small, size doesn’t matter.
Make sure you and your family are prepared for any disaster or emergency with rugged flashlights.
@rusnivek
September was busy thanks to National Preparedness Month but October is going to be super fun!
First week, I’ll be teaching ICS in Belmont County (Ohio). Bonus points because I’ll be in a suit on Tuesday!
Second week will be heavy planning/coordination for upcoming IMT OSC Course, PIO Workshop, and PIO Conference. (BTW: Save-the-date – Friday January 20th, 2017).
Third week will be reporting live at the International Association of Emergency Manager’s Annual Conference in Savannah, Georgia. Suit up lads because it’s IAEM baby!
Fourth week, I’ll be back in Marietta, Georgia teaching. Who’s showing the love for Region 4 this month?!? Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I wonder what my Halloween costume will be this year?
| 16-005: Inquiries during an emergency | |
| Agency: Irfan Khan and NBCLA | Topic(s): Twitter engagement & Crisis |
| Date: 09-30-16 | Platform: Twitter |
After several Public Information Table Top Exercises and Social Media Workshops, many attendees have experienced reporters who have purposely bypassed officials for information and have directly contacted affected parties involved.
Social media has shortened the timeline for any news reporters – basically cutting INTO the chase. This can be exemplified by NBCLA Reporter Daniella Guzman’s reply on Twitter to Irfan Khan’s tweet he posted during an active shooter situation on UCLA’s campus in June 2016.
As you can tell by Irfan’s Tweet, raw parental emotion to protect his child who was hiding in a bathroom (from the shooter) is palpable. But what can Public Information Officers (PIOs) do about this? Not much since this social media platform lends itself to fairly open dialog for any ongoing emerging situations. Now, you could say that if the parent has enough time to tweet, that he/she has the right mindset to respond to reporters. However, when faced with a dire situation and the possible loss or death of an immediately family member – most people do not respond well.
It is possible to deflect random victim/survivor inquiry attempts. PIOs could proactively monitor the common accounts or hashtags that emerge during the incident. In this situation, “#UCLA” was a common term that was used to associate tweets. Simply setting up a column in TweetDeck or HootSuite could provide another monitoring point for your Joint Information Center on redirecting inquiries. Once vetted, operations and tactics could use this information to increase Situational Awareness and Common Operating Picture (SA/COP).
For Irfan’s family, I am glad to report that Irfan’s daughter was found safe.
Three important tips to consider as soon as something kicks off:
On Twitter, your public safety presence is important because you can help proliferate good sources of information by redirecting to official trusted sources.
Time is short, so Tweet good stuff!
Got invited to speak in Lincoln at the 2016 State of Nebraska Annual Cyber Security Conference. Great to have so many sponsors promoting CyberSecurity
Incidentally, next month, October is National Cybersecurity Month.
Following the FBI is always a hard act to follow. Additionally, I was the after lunch speaker. Gish.
Don’t worry, I’ll try to be serious. And yes, I’m wearing a tie.
I’ll even play a few fun videos too.
And they said try not to stand on any tables and chairs during class. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED~!
Super fun time presenting to some new peeps including those who laughed at my new cat jokes. Special thanks to NIPC’s Leslie…
…and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency’s Assistant Director Bryan and all the staff for the invite.
Since it’s still September and still National Preparedness Month, don’t forget to have your #BadDayBag ready to go too.
BTW-people often ask what I do when I get stuck at an airport for 5+ hours.
Hope this helps answer any questions.
IPAWS National Test of the Emergency Alert System
Wednesday, September 28th, 2016 at 2:20pm EDT
FEMA’s IPAWS will hold a national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, September 28th, 2016 at 2:20pm EDT. The National Periodic Test (NPT) code, which is used to distribute the national test, is similar to the Regular Monthly test (RMT) code that generates a brief EAS message on radio, TV, and cable indicating a test of the EAS is in progress. The NPT test code will be sent from FEMA’s alerting infrastructure, known as IPAWS, and relayed through all aspects of the EAS. The test message will be the same as a typical monthly EAS test message, with one exception: the word “National” will be added to the test message.
The goal of the mandatory test is to assess the operational readiness and effectiveness of the IPAWS infrastructure for distribution of a national-level message to the public. A second goal is to implement a standard method for regular alert and warning tests which help to improve the national preparedness posture. The test is expected to have limited impact on the public with only minor disruptions of radio and television programs. Only the EAS will be tested in this nationwide test. Cell phone and other FEMA alerting capabilities will not be tested during this event.
In the event of an unforeseen circumstance, such as a major weather event, the back-up date for the IPAWS National Test is Wednesday, October 5th at 2:20pm EDT.
Where is @rusnivek? 