FYI – D200 Full Scale Exercise today. #Training #drill

Posted on March 26, 2019 by rusnivek

Reminder to the media and the general public: Full Scale Exercise Training today in Wheaton, Illinois with the D200 schools.

This is only a drill. Training.

For more information, follow on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @ProtectDuPage

@rusnivek

Saturday thoughts: Your Tacticool pants

Posted on March 23, 2019 by rusnivek

Saturday thoughts: USE YOUR POCKETS!

We talked extensively last week in our IMT LSC course, Operational readiness, and EOC course about what you should bring during a disaster in the response phase. Particularly, I get sooooo many inquiries on what to bring and have on your person 24/7.

What do I carry in my pockets? Usually I carry:

My left bellows pockets, I carry my FEMA official book as well as a printed copy of the current Incident Action Plan (IAP).

My right bellows pockets, I carry my coffee/water cup.

You paid good money for them and they are not just regular pants. Y’all got these #tacticool pants – SO USE THEM!

Again, use all the pockets!

Do not be afraid to use your equipment to it’s fullest extent.

@rusnivek

Day-2 of the FEMA EOC Management and Operations course (G775)

Posted on March 22, 2019 by rusnivek

Day-2 of the FEMA EOC Management & Operations course here at DuPage County OHSEM.

Bonus points, I got to introduce our new Ops Chief to everyone today. Welcome Joe Jones!

We also talked a bunch about responder safety and how to bring a few moments of zen to the pros working your EOC. I think these comfort/therapy dogs are the best.

Timely post from FEMA on the work these dogs do for responders.

Trust me, they were a very welcome sight in the midst of chaos of a national disaster.

Glad to have so many pros from across Illinois for attending our class.

And yes, without a doubt, it is #AlohaFriday.

@rusnivek

Day-1 of the FEMA G775 EOC Management & Operations Course at DuPage County OHSEM

Posted on March 21, 2019 by rusnivek

Starting out the official FEMA G775 EOC Management and Operations course today.

And if you didn’t know what EOC was…..

And now you know.

In this class, we are fortunate to talk about our fine partners in public safety represented in 15 different ESFs. As an example, the biggest nerd….I mean guru on radios is everyone’s favorite Comms guy, ladies and gents, put your hands together for John Neeeeeeeeeeeebl!!!!!!

Happy to give the floor to him to share the efforts of the ITECS trailers and the COML function with everyone.

We also discussed a ton on positions and what is done to serve the EOC. We talked a bit on plans and how they drive the train along using the planning P as a guide to the formulation of the IAP.

Now, your EOC is waaaay more than just getting a few computers.

Yikes. That’s right, you can’t have everything on computer, you need ACTUAL human beings running the show.

Not only a warm body, but also highly trained individual and pros that possess knowledge and experience to make critical decisions to support operations as well as support the ongoing operational periods. So basically we need peeps that know how to work a disaster.

So to help put things into perspective, we showcased our own EOC too.

Honestly, we hope that you know our EOC because if we spin up, we want you to know our setup so that we can all function well TOGETHER. Again, the EOC should be used as a coordination center for our all-hazards partners.