The time has come to welcome all of our graduates of the FEMA Basic Academy here at DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management!
“This is the first FEMA Basic Academy offered here in Illinois and we are proud to bring this Emergency Management foundation education here to DuPage County.” said Academy Instructor Kevin Sur. “The skills learned during this intensive course from November through March builds the framework for all Emergency Managers combining knowledge of all fundamental systems, concepts, and practices of leading actions for future leaders.”
The course started in November 2019 where participants were exposed to all mission areas including a myriad of case studies that highlighted the importance of collaboration and coordination in the response and recovery phase of any disaster or emergency.
In January 2020, participants took a deep dive into the science of disasters as well as planning to better help and understand the threats and dangers to each of their own communities.
To understand our hazards, we must understand legit science so that we can use the right resources to solve the problem.
The last week in March 2020, the class focused on the hot button topic of Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program and the Public Information and Warning course. Special thanks to new FEMA MEPP DuPage County OHSEM Sup Corey Mulryan for teaching with me on this one.
Participants debated the use of mass notification systems, social media in targeting specific audiences, and the value of the Public Information Officer (PIO) who’s role is so vital to the success of the agency.
Proud to be a part of the Instructional delivery team to get this first class here at DuPage County OHSEM.
Who’s who in the zoo? Well, we had participants from 6 different states, 3 different FEMA Regions with a diverse crowd from local, county, state, and Federal partners.
OUTSTANDING!!!!!
As we rolled into the graduation, I was able to make some opening remarks and thanking our most esteemed guests in the room.
Glad to hear from the new FEMA Region V Deputy Regional Administrator Kevin Sligh.
Deputy RA Sligh is a graduate of the program and is proud to see this foundational course being used as the marker of success for local Emergency Managers.
We also got a chance to hear from FEMA Region 5 Training & Exercise Manager Jessica Mitchell on the value of training. She is a proud resident of DuPage County.
And finally, to close things out, ladies and gents….put your hands together for Former IEMA Director and former Director of DuPage OHSEM….FEMA Region V Regional Administrator James Joseph!!!!
Starting out Day-3 of the ICS-300 class on Aloha Friday.
You can see my Aloha shirt peeking out on this cold 34 degree day in Alabama.
Glad to share the work of what our public safety forces do prior to a disaster declaration. In fact, lots needs to get done before a Federal Declaration. We talk about how locals need to work seamlessly with state agencies.
Then we talk about the importance of how states work with our regional partners.
Tailoring the convo to our FEMA employees attending helps them understand the seriousness of our work as incidents get bigger and inevitably into a type-1 disaster.
Making sure you specifically address your audience is critical at being a good instructor.
Tho, I don’t know who is Kevin Kur. Dang it. 😆
So for those that believe ICS classes are boring, I would contend that you don’t have the right instructor(s). Case in point, who gets cheers and applause at the end of an ICS-300?
Trust me when I say the world of Social Media Emergency Management is small…because today, I got a chance to chat w/ Shayne Sparagowski in Atlanta.
Look who I found. Great to meet @chayne_s & have breakfast this morning. #EmergencyManagement is truly a small world. #smem #hsem
Shayne is an Emergency Manager out of the Atlanta-Fulton EMA in Georgia and like me, loves to talk about social media.
Hilariously, we talked more about Emergency Management specifically mass care/sheltering and a whole bunch about weather decision for large planned events. You know, typical Emergency Management talk huh?
Sounds like the spirit of Emergency Management is alive and well in Georgia as it was great to chat w/ Chayne!
Day-2 of the ICS-300 and we already have people writing on the walls. 😳
OK, just kidding. The walls here were made to be written on as we allow our participants to collaborate with others. The wall makes it easier to draw and share ideas (including resource requests) that are needed to help response and recovery.
Glad to share so many ideas with a very diverse group of peeps here this week.
One of the participants just said that I act more FCO than PIO. 😂
Reporting live from FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness…
Tho, I don’t know who is Kevin Kur. Dang it. 😆
Where is @rusnivek? 