Unknown's avatar

About rusnivek

Emergency Services

July 2016 includes classes, a deployment and a big event in Cleveland

July is here. OMG. It’s crunch time!

First week I’ll be in Cleveland for a few planning meetings and off to Chicago for my favorite ER MD’s retirement party.

Second week I’ll be deployed with DHS/FEMA for External Affairs.

Third week is the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland where I’ll be supporting our all-hazards public safety professionals.

Fourth week I’ll head down to Missouri to teach some social media in Region-7 baby! Indeed no rest for the weary.

20140501-083012.jpg

With the RNC in Cleveland, July will be an incredibly challenging month for all public safety peeps.

@rusnivek

Teaching class at Mississippi EMA

Busy second day teaching at the Mississippi State Emergency Management Agency. 


But today’s class had a few speed bumps  because we apparently lost power twice in class. Did we #DunkInTheDark?


Nope, we just periscoped in the dark. 

https://www.periscope.tv/w/akSlMjc2Mjc3OXwxdk9Hd1BWYm1iTkpCtjoz1jFOhLanQZLMM9awCjsaz8yztectVj2CIqssEBU=

Don’t worry, we had a room full of emergency management and emergency services pros who had secondary light sources. 


No matter the barriers, we must overcome and succeed. Slight delay so……SELFIE IN THE DARK!!!


After a while, power came back on.

Lots of classroom discussion and group activities to help concrete points on emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. 


Also included a special weather inject from NWS-Jackson Office. 


Super fun new peeps today.


Super. 


Fun. 


NWS Peeps. 


Including my new friend Loretta!


Definitely a solid Thursday teaching.

Mahalos for the authentic southern hospitality. 

@rusnivek

DHS 2016 Preparedness Grants

Release Date: June 29, 2016

For Immediate Release

DHS Press Office

Contact: 202-282-8010

DHS%20logo

As part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ongoing efforts to support state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, Secretary Jeh Johnson today announced final allocations of $275 million for six Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 DHS competitive preparedness grant programs. These allocations, in addition to the more than $1.3 billion in non-competitive grant funding announced by Secretary Johnson in February, total more than

$1.6 billion in FY 2016 to assist states, urban areas, tribal and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector with their preparedness efforts.

 

“In an ever-changing threat environment, our homeland security grants demonstrate the Department’s continued commitment to strengthening the nation’s preparedness and ability to respond to a wide variety of emergencies,” said Secretary Johnson. “These 2016 homeland security grant allocations will support our partners at all levels of government and the private sector, ensuring we remain vigilant and keep the homeland secure.”

 

Together with previous grant funding awarded since 2002, DHS has awarded more than $47 billion to these partners. Preparedness grants strengthen our nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies in support of the National Preparedness Goal and the National Preparedness System.

 

The FY 2016 grants focus on the nation’s highest risk areas, including urban areas that continue to face the most significant threats. Consistent with previous grant guidance, dedicated funding is provided for law enforcement and terrorism prevention activities throughout the country to prepare for, prevent, and respond to pre-operational activity and other crimes that are precursors or indicators of terrorist activity.

 

Competitive Grant Program Allocations for Fiscal Year 2016:

 

Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)—a competitive grant that provides $100 million to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or reestablish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities.

 

Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)—a competitive grant that provides $87 million to owners and operators of transit systems to protect critical surface transportation and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure.

 

Operation Stonegarden (OPSG)—a competitive grant that provides $55 million to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to jointly enhance security along the United States’ land and water borders where there are ongoing Customs and Border Protection missions.

 

Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)—a competitive grant that provides

$20 million to support target hardening and other physical security enhancements for nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack and located within one of the 29 Fiscal Year 2016 UASI-eligible urban areas.

 

Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP)—a competitive grant that provides $10 million to eligible tribal nations to implement preparedness initiatives to help strengthen the nation against risk associated with potential terrorist attacks and other hazards.

 

Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP)—a competitive grant that provides $3 million to assist operators of fixed-route intercity and charter bus services within high-threat urban areas to protect bus systems and the traveling public from acts of terrorism, major disasters and other emergencies.

 

In addition to the competitive grants announced today, in February 2016, Secretary Johnson announced more than $1.3 billion in preparedness grant program funding.

 

Non-Competitive Grant Program Allocations for Fiscal Year 2016:

 

Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program— a non-competitive grant that provides more than $350 million to assist local, tribal, territorial, and state governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities.

 

Intercity Passenger Rail – Amtrak (IPR) Program—a non-competitive grant that provides $10 million to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and increase the resilience of the Amtrak rail system.

 

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)—provides more than $1 billion for states and urban areas to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other threats. The HSGP grants are:

 

State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)—a non-competitive grant that provides

$402 million to support the implementation of the National Preparedness System to build and strengthen preparedness capabilities at all levels.

Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)—a non-competitive grant that provides

$580 million to enhance regional preparedness and capabilities in 29 high-threat, high-density areas.

Awards made to the states and urban areas for HSGP carry pass-through requirements. Pass-through is defined as an obligation on the part of the State Administrative Agency (SAA) to make funds available to local units of government, combinations of local units, tribal governments, or other specific groups or organizations.  The SAA must obligate at least 80 percent

(80%) of the funds awarded under SHSP and UASI to local or tribal units of government.

 

Per section 2006 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C.

  • 607), DHS/FEMA is required to ensure that at least 25 percent of grant funding must be used for law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.

 

Further information on DHS’s preparedness grant programs is available at www.dhs.gov and http://www.fema.gov/grants.

 

 

 

Instructing at MS EMA 

Solid day teaching at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.


Lots of engaged peeps today. 


By fostering solid discussions with external partners, we can better collaborate before, during, and after a disaster. 


Most importantly, we build these relationships under bright lights, classrooms where we can brainstorm our successful coordinated response to any emergency. 

@rusnivek

My Dad started his Neighborhood Watch Program!

I’m proud of my Dad who setup his Neighborhood Watch Program.

IMG_3973

Dad has been planning this for months now and even posted signs to get everyone involved. Because inviting and talking with the entire neighborhood about safety related topics are the key points of the Neighborhood Watch program. Also, my Dad went big – he blocked off the entire cul-de-sac for his event!

IMG_3980

Honolulu Fire Station-30 (Engine-30 & Ladder-30) stopped by to share some safety tips and what to do during an emergency.

IMG_3975

Ladder-30 showcased their equipment for everyone to see.

IMG_3982

Talked about ventilation saws for trench cuts and vertical cuts for fires.

IMG_3989

Also talked about extrication tools and generators for car accidents and confined space rescue.

IMG_3987

All the kids in the neighborhood got a chance to try out the headsets used for communications in the apparatus.

IMG_3986

Honolulu Police stopped by too.

IMG_3984

Even a surprise flyby thanks to Honolulu Fire Air-1 Helicopter.

In the end, this kind of neighborhood program is truly the basis of a safer community.

IMG_3983

Education, particularly teaching kids during an emergency, how to call 9-1-1 is crucial to a safe community.

IMG_3979

My Dad volunteered to do this. Yep, not paid. Just doing his part to keep his neighborhood and community safe. LOVE IT!

There are many other volunteer programs showcased by DHS/FEMA’s awesome Ready.Gov campaign on safety. Just like my Dad, I volunteer too with my community’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) aka RH-CERT.

Whether you are a part of your own Neighborhood Watch Program, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Volunteers in Police Service (ViPS), Medical Reserve Corp (MRC), Fire Corps, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs), etc…all of these civic based programs are so important to the fabric for the safety of our community across this great country.

So proud of my Dad!

@rusnivek