Looks like I’ll get to teach the new ICS-400 course at the Illinois Air National Guard – 182nd Airlift Wing base. Whohoooooooo!
Who’s in???
Alex, I’ll take the C-130 for $400!
Drake: Kevin!??!?!
Me: Yes?
It could get weirder.
Weird confluence of things, Kevin.
DM me. See you at the BBQ.
A heavy lift helo moving a food truck to the top of a building in downtown Chicago.
Aka preparing my elevated Incident Command Post (ICP)
The weird things you see on a Sunday in the city…
I can’t believe we are already through more than half of 2019! Amazing how time flies. Lots more to do in 2019.
First week we have lots of new ICS classes/coordination as well as a class in Baltimore, MD.
Second week more FEMA Basic Academy TtT coordination and a class in Worcester, MA.
Third week, OMG, we #totes have a solid week of advanced social media across the State of Ohio. My old peeps!!!!!
Fourth week, we have another Basic PIO course and JIC/JIS course in Kentucky. I get to teach with a reporter. Funz!
Basically, it’s a 3-1-5-4 kinda month so likely lots of sleeping on planes, trains, and in automobiles. Will I see you in June?
Can’t stop, won’t stop.
When was the last time you saw one of these?!? (Bonus points for the double).
Nice work OEMC in restoring this historic piece.
Like the NE, I kinda wish Chicago had maintained these pull stations as a legacy backup for emergencies.
Good morning from the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications!
Located in the heart of the west loop, this multi functional location serves as a focal point for City EOC, JIC, Snow Command, PW EOC, Ops Center, 911 PSAP, etc….basically, I’m glad it’s a hardened facility.
Today’s Emergency Management topics have to deal with Disaster Assistance and Public Assistance. Hiya Wendellllllllllllllllllllllllll.
Of course, as a good Emergency Manager, we want to take a look at the host city’s EOP.
Lots to discern and digest from our partners.
Now, for those who refuse to share information and hold information tight to their chest….that’s dumb. You realize when the big one hits, your isolationist actions will prove to be detrimental to the success of the response/recovery of any emergency. Again, work closely with your partners BEFORE a disaster.
Looking down into the PSAP center floor, lots of call takers working the good for the community.
PSAPs and EOCs are kept relatively dark to help with eye strain. Telecommunications have a tough job. If you haven’t already done so, I’d recommend that you sit in their chair one day and observe. Quite honestly, I’d take working the squad any day.
Quick look into the City of Chicago’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) too.
And calm yourself PIOs….I found it.
Get your City of Chicago Joint Information Center (JIC) on baby! I sense I will be spending activation time here soon.
And yes, I’m wearing a tie.
As we close out response/recovery discussions for the day, we must spend more time thinking about cross training and enhancing our multi-jurisdictional skills. Working together is critical to any event or incident. We must overcome the stigma and the predisposed notion of kingdoms and fiefdoms. We must work together before a disaster. This will result in better response collaboration and recovery efforts.
Where am I? They threw up the bat signal so….
Reporting live from the Bat Cave:
I’m Batman….I mean @rusnivek
As we continue our training, we want to be cognizant of all kinds of skills needed to be successful in Emergency Management.
Many of you have been apart of a training or exercise…and have indubitably identified that communications is an action that needs more work. But how can you make that fun? Well, enter one of my Thunderbolt-esque exercises.
Giving the nod to former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, these types of no-notice trainings engage our staff and forces them to think outside the box.
How outside? In this exercise, we cover
And to boot, it’s non-traditional training cause there are no powerpoints. Zero. Zilch. No joy. Gonzo. Nada Ghostrider.
As adult educators, we often forget that people learn things differently. Additionally, we as instructors need to explore outside our comfort zone and teach things in a classic lecture AND non-traditional style.
I am incredibly fortunate to have a staff that loves to train and enhance their skills. Train like you fight!
Want to know more? Want to train better? Come and be a part of my Emergency Management Team. You’ll see.
Tuesday morning hit hard after a long holiday weekend. On the ride in, I was thinking more about the new terminology that will be rolled out shortly to replace the “Run! Hide! Fight!” – for active shooter situations.
At last week’s National Preparedness Symposium, one of the FEMA Consortium partners brought up the newly revamped procedures.
1. Lock or block it.
2. Become invisible.
3. Silence your phone.
4. Silence yourself.
5. When you come out, ask “Is it OK?”
Lots of discussion on review of actions too. While heroic in practice/training, we are seeing that people are more reserve when it comes to actual emergencies.
Same as before, contemplate a counter-attack strategy with others who are stuck with you. “I go high and you go low” type conversations will help coordinate your immediate response if a threat presents itself.
Having good communications skills as well as non-verbal communications skills are critical esp in a dangerous situation.
Get to know your co-workers and your neighbors.
Monday afternoon and we gotta worry about Severe Thunderstorm warnings and Tornado watches and warnings.
Crossing my fingers for a safe passing but our EOC is currently at level 3.
More importantly, it is critical that everyone pays attention to the warnings.
National Weather Service Chicago does a solid job as the true official source of info for severe weather like this.
As the weather gets more shady and kinda fugly, we ought to reference several sites frequently on your mobile platform.
National Weather Service Chicago (@NWSChicago)
DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (@ProtectDuPage)
Illinois Emergency Management Agency (@ReadyIllinois)
FEMA’s ReadyGov Program (ReadyGov)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (@FEMA)
Charge your cell phones up now and keep your weather radios handy this afternoon.
Your safety is totes important.
It’s the freakin weekend peeps!
As you jet away for the long holiday weekend, a few points to ponder:
1. Pace yourself cause you got 3 whole days.
2. Read #1 again.
3. Be thankful and remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service for our freedom. 🇺🇸
Be safe and don’t make the news this weekend. (But if you do, you better hope your #PIO likes you!) Reporting live from the #2 position…
Where is @rusnivek? 