Reviewing a few past PIO clips this Sunday morning, I really have to improve my camera image aka I gotta work on my RBF.

I definitely needed some sleep but yikes, I look like I am constipated.

4Q resolution: While on camera, I’ll try to smile more.

@rusnivek

How can we take our PIOs and make them better?

That’s right – get them to collaborate and work to coordinated messaging.

Today’s course revolves around the efforts to bring all PIOs together and get them to coordinate and work together.

That’s that Voltron magic you hear me talking about all the time.

PIOs need to work together regardless of backgrounds. Our messaging needs to be concise and coordinated so that we are seen as a unifying voice that our community can rally behind during an emergency or disaster!

Additionally, we must be creative with our work. Every emergency is not the same. Every disaster is not the same.

Most importantly, every community across this great nation is different and demands a different response tailored to meet the needs of our community.

Disasters aren’t easy. Waaaaay not easy!

But this is what we train for, this is what we do.

Glad to teach with Amber and Mike this week.

Looking forward to more training with all of our partners in the region.

@rusnivek

Day-2 started out with some time spent with a back to the basics review of writing skills. Seemingly easy, we all need to refocus our baseline efforts on writing.

A great teaching moment as Amber uses a combination of projector and dry erase board to make press release enhancements with class collaboration.

Dat red pen tho!

But seriously, by revisiting our efforts on writing, we can strengthen our efforts on social media, craft stronger messages that are clear and concise, and most importantly, get the right message, to the right people, at the right time, so they can make the right decisions. Boom!

Thanks to Mike’s persuasive donut techniques, we were able to assemble a fine media panel for our class.

(From left to right)

Indianapolis Fire Battalion Chief Rita Reith

Indiana State Police Trooper John Perrine

Fox 59 Anchor/Reporter Aishah Hasnie

Indy Star Breaking News Team Vic Ryckaert

Outstanding discussion on “no comment” as well as “off the record” – all designed to enhance our Public Information Officers’ skills.

I am thankful to have everyone here to discuss ongoing events with government officials and news media.

Just like the other classes, we reviewed all mock plane crash field interview with all PIOs.

No doubt, a helpful tool as people do things on TV that sometimes could be detrimental to their mission and agency.

Fruitful discussion with everyone attending. I can tell this class really wants to enhance their skills as PIOs.

Even role playing was quite fun as we considered all aspects of Emergency Management as well as the viewpoints of our PIOs from all the ESFs including ESF-13: Law Enforcement!

Bahahaha hahahaha!

Looking forward to the JIC/JIS course tomorrow!

@rusnivek

Starting out another FEMA Basic Public Information Officer Course with a bunch of PIOs from various agencies including Fire, EMS, Emergency Management, Public Health, higher education, and state government.

These diverse backgrounds allow us to dive deeper into coordinated messaging for our targeted audiences.

And I know you were wondering…

…and yes…

…don’t worry….

….we did on-camera interviews.

Lots of them!

Solid first day as we covered a bunch of topics including staging for media, location of JIC with egress routes and other planning considerations.

Proper JIC planning can only benefit the PIO as we need to be ready for rapid field deployment during any emergency or disaster.

And I know what you are going say….it’s Wednesday so what about…..

Yep, I gotcha covered.

Looking forward to day-2!

@rusnivek

Thank you to all those drivers out there who took extra time to allow all the kids to cross streets and get back to school safely.

So many new kids going to new schools for the first time! It is imperative that we slow down and give everyone a few more chances as they acclimate to a new location, school, and classroom.

Thanks to all!

@rusnivek

Labor Day is a great day to reset and double check those preparedness kits! One of the mandatory items in the kit should be at least two really good flashlights.

Here’s my daughter showcasing her two flashlights that reside in her preparedness kit.

That is most definitely two SureFire flashlights.

Don’t forget the batteries too!!!!!!!

Hope your kits are ready to go because the 2018 hurricane season is here.

@rusnivek