Got a few more EAS notifications today…this one from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Targeting the lakefront, parks/beaches, the 606 trail and Chicago RiverWalk, are now closed. Dang it.
Hoping these preventive measures help reduce the spread of Coronavirus.
Sigh, it’s going to be a long spring huh?
PIO huddle going to be on the fly today as we are all tasked to different actions.
FaceTime allows anyone of our all iPhone users to have easy access to this and can be initiated by any one of us. So by using this consistent tech with explicit instructions, we can easily overcome the tech barriers.
And yes, I decided to wear my tactical helmet from Team Wendy.
Did they notice?
John was driving but here’s the moment when he realized what was going on.
Heh.
OK, back to the news. I wanted to make sure our media partners were aware of the rumor control page setup by FEMA HQ. This is helpful to discern incorrect information and share trusted information.
Seems like we as PIOs are constantly thwarting mis-information so this kind of static page is helpful as we continue to get the right information…out to the right people…at the right time…so they can make good decisions.
Truly glad that our media partners engaged on that subject and wanted to do story/stories on mis-information in this response.
And as we continue to be responsive from the Joint Information Center (JIC), we are trending up the long term care facilities (LTCF) action as we see a sharp increase in COVID19 patients there.
Sigh. Wash your hands peeps, this is going to be a long one.
Tuesday morning and lots of conference calls to jump on. Trying to hit Zoom, Teams, FaceTime…..man, we minus well hit up Chat Roulette too!
Kidding. Not Chat Roulette.
But seriously, seems like we got things covered from local, county, state, and Federal….so I’m glad that we are participating as actively as we can.
Just make sure you got the right date scheduled for the meeting.
Dammit.
BTW – for those wondering what my choice was for helmet of the day. Well, I was feeling the need…the need for SPEED!
Hahahahaha. I’m a mess.
Glad to bring a few smiles to my fellow PIOs as we continue to work closely together.
Additionally, we are sharing consistent messages and aligning with national messaging. All of this to make sure we get the right information, to the right people, at the right time, so they can make the best decision(s).
No doubt on this one, thank you Phil. #FEMA #MPIO
Here are a few of the graphics we are using that align w/ CDC and HHS.
Use as you see fit too.
And at the end of the day, trust me, a small compliment goes far.
Shout out to Shannon Halligan means a lot to many of us that have been working our tails off. Thanks Shannon!
Keep your head above the water as we continue to serve our communities…
Monday is here as we check in on our actions from the weekend. Seems like it’s all working out well.
This week, we gotta test the skills of our PIOs so since everyone knows how to engage on zoom meetings, I need to test the other technologies. Let’s do this on FaceTime. Totally on the fly, all on the mobile!
And to help spice things up this week? We are going to change it up and I’ll be wearing a helmet everyday this week. This week’s choice?
Awwww yeah, give it up for my fellow Brother Firefighters…
I know Don and John are jelly.
As we start to grow our media lists, we are starting to see more national stations chiming in. If you need to be added to our news media distro, LMK and I’ll be happy to add your trusted email to our daily push.
And a quick note from last night from Bonnie in one of the Arizona JICs.
Glad to hear the training provided is paying off for a few of my PIO friends in FEMA Region 9….
Flattered to hear that others are doing solid work to protect their communities from the Coronavirus.
Sunday is off to a bang as we need some formality to the process. Revamp what? What does that mean?
<Cue the Hawaiian music in the JIC because we are going to revamp a few things today.>
1. We are going to take a look at the press releases and move them to media alerts…because no one reads press releases anymore. Let’s not waste time and align it to be more factual and numbers. From a PIO perspective, this “trending” is what news outlets are looking for. Big upticks/spikes in numbers.
And in this situation, I doubt they are concentrating at the minutia of individual numbers esp since they are projected to dramatically increase over the next few weeks.
2. Accountability must be improved as we got the formal FEMA Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act. So everyone gets a T-card and everyone must fill out an ICS-214. That includes me too.
3. Don’t forget to sign in on the ICS-211 form and your T-card is good to go.
4. Get a hard copy of the IAP and read through it. Don’t get caught not knowing the current plan. Maybe…MAYBE use those fancy tactical cargo pockets to hold your IAP (I’m judging).
5. Daily morning briefs with your PIOs….we call them our PIO roll call. Not longer than 10 minutes, allows us to get a handle on our daily activities and allows us to coordinate with each other. SA/COP baby!
I hate to break the news to you but the PIO’s job isn’t easy. So much more work goes behind the scenes and talking on camera is really about 5% of the job. Your main bread and butter work comes from the preparation and planning that goes into that.
Additionally, most reporters aren’t going to catch you live and want to do interviews. This new fangled invention called the cell phone makes it easy to communicate with all your reporters.
I honestly can’t tell you how many phone calls and interviews I did standing in my garage at 11p at night.
Yep, it never ends.
Get some sleep peeps, it’s going to be a long week ahead.
Rolling in on a Saturday to the EOC….
Wait a sec…WAIT A SEC….
Did one of our partners get their drive through testing station up and running already?
PIO to SITL: How do copy?
Man, the news is going to be all over this one…
In a world where toilet paper is scarce.
No, no, no…wait a minute.
In a time where the future looks bleak due to a national paper goods shortage.
No, no, no…wait a sec…
Breaking news…reports out of the battle field indicate a tear in the armor…
No, no, no….that’s not it at all.
Come work with us and you won’t have to worry about that kinda stuff. For realsz. If you were worried about toilet paper, fear not!
We got all the stuff you need here at work.
Basically, this post is a basic needs necessity. You have to provide for the needs of your employees. During a crisis, their stress levels skyrocket and they are probably having a tough time adjusting to the new schedules and response rhythm.
As a leader of your organization, you must give your employees the sound mind to be able to function and act as needed. Your team does NOT need to be distracted by the basic creature comforts of home while trying to make an impact/difference in the community.
Let me repeat that one more time: In the midst of battle, allow your team to make good decisions.
Provide for them the tools they need, allow them to do their thing, and trust their judgement. You hired them for a reason right? Let your staff make your organization shine.
Butt seriously, don’t worry, we got you covered. 🤣
Reporting live from the EOC…
Oh yes….did someone say the Joint Information Center (JIC)?!?!? BRING. IT. ON. BABY.
Not only are we activating the JIC, we need to keep in track and record of all of our staff/personnel.
As a good PSC, you know I wouldn’t leave home without my trusty T-cards right?
Let’s see how many of my ESF friends will be here with us…
Reporting live from the JIC…
As we all settle into a regular cycle of command and general staff meetings, we all try to abide by the social distancing that seems to be setting this response differently than others.
Note: The Health Department calls this their “Crisis Management Team (CMT) – prob better known in the All-hazards world as the Command and General Staff meeting. While lax on the formality, I think our health department would benefit from standardizing this meeting and abide by the guidance provided by the ICS templates on how to run the meetings.
Also, as you can tell, it’s a bit awkward for all of us to sit so far away.
And as we continue to prep and lay the ground work for our ongoing efforts for our communities, Incident Commander sits with the director of the Health Department to lay out our operational response.
Glad to hear Murray say to Karen, “Whatever it takes to support” on this Coronavirus incident.
Now that we are in sync, let’s continue to work the magic.
Morning briefing with DCHD.
At first blush, this is looking like a full response vs a silo ESF response.
So I gotta put more thought on the ESF15 strategic path lays out. Likely lots of turf battles as this is a ESF-06 and ESF-08 kinda thang.
Glad to lean on my past experiences from Fire/EMS and hospitals to help me glide through this.
You know I’m going to say it…”External Affairs can support the plan.”
Reporting live from the health department…
Where is @rusnivek? 