We talked a little about press credentials last week in our Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) Basic Public Information Officer (PIO) class. Here’s an example of Chicago’s press creds.
(Some of you may remember Erin Kennedy from WKYC 3 here in Cleveland).
PIO Pro Tip: Build trusted relationships w/ the media prior to an incident.
A fine day to teach the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s JIS / JIC Planning for Tribal, State, and Local PIOs (G-291) course in Medina County!
A classic start with The Who.
One of the big points emphasized in this class is the differences between a Joint Information Center (JIC) and a Joint Information System (JIS). Both have merits in daily operations and each have strengths and weaknesses in disaster operations.
Sometimes PIOs don’t understand that a JIC or JIS activation is just like a normal activation. If you can’t figure out the differences between the two, take the class from those who have actually worked a JIC or a JIS.
On Tuesday/Wednesday in the Basic Public Information Officers’ Course (G-290), we talked about training and readiness efforts for any PIO. Go Kits were a hot button topic as everyone’s PIO kit would most likely be different. Resource manuals are great to have, but difficult to keep updated. Just maintaining a PIO contact list is a tedious task.
Much discussion about food in the kit. This was obviously NOT a good example of what you should be eating during an JIC activation.
Prob not the best lunch.
Healthy body = Healthy mind. Period.
As the day progressed, we facilitated several in-depth discussions on teamwork, joint efforts in responses as well as some pre-scripted messages that can be used by everyone. Planning now will reduce the amount of white hair during an incident.
Establish relationships now with local health departments, local and regional hospitals, local Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Teams, Special Technical Rescue Teams. Easily rely on your state staff and resources to support your actions. A great wealth of information is available to bring to the table. Just establish that connection before that awkward 0300 hit.
Additionally, tapping into local resources from other Federal Agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives(ATF), National Weather Service (NWS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs Border Patrol (CBP), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), etc…so many options to establish relationships!
“Building relationships now can only increase our response effectiveness during a disaster.” – K. Sur
Looking outside government agencies, public and private partnerships can support our safety and response initiatives – so we need to make a concerted effort to make those connections now. Build relationships before a disaster!
Sur and Mo!
So how can you bring all these resources together? Consider these actions to explore in your jurisdiction:
And if you were wondering, class participants did well on their post-tests.
Psssst…the answer is “C” #not
We had a great time teaching this week. Much thanks to the Medina County Emergency Management Agency and EM Director Christine Fozio for their hospitality. Super fun time.
So much ducking fun (duck face reference)
Special thanks to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency for sponsoring this all-hazards class for our partners in public safety.
(L to R): PIO Instructor Kevin Sur, Medina County Emergency Management Director Christine Fozio, and PIO Instructor Monique Witherspoon.
If you are looking to attend OEMA’s free PIO courses:
**coordinate through OEMA State Training Officer Susan Traylor.
As always, I’m looking forward to the JIC / JIS activation calls. I am excited for these new PIOs to put their new acquired PIO skillz in place. And yes, I said skillz with a Z.
Time is short so do good stuff!
Final day of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s Basic Public Information Officer Course (G-290). Kaboom!
Before class started, we pumped a little Billy Joel through the ECC&C speakers.
We talked about what kind of information needs to be disseminated including categorizing messages by priority. Obviously, we discussed various social media platforms and a few publishing options to maximize visibility.
Basically, it still comes down to maximizing our efforts during a disaster or emergency.
Working in groups, all participants formulated action items to implement at their agencies. Incidentally, this is truly the reason why so many ICS classes exercise in groups…is to help facilitate open dialogue. Building relationships is easier in an open classroom setting.
And yes, 0300 is NOT the time to be meeting fellow public safety professionals for the first time in the EOC.
As a group, we evaluated everyone’s TV PIO interview.
Everyone shared constructive recommendations with the entire class. Everyone.
In fact, the private industry crew really enjoyed the training and wanted to work/train more closely with various public safety agencies (Hmmmm, I sense this could be the start of a public-private-partnerships-EEEK).
In the end, more group work and a secondary interview helped participants to become more comfortable in front of the camera.
Additionally, non-verbal actions including certain physical cues were shared to help PIOs take back control from an aggressive reporter and take control of the interview.
Remember, the important point to remember is….
Reporting live from FEMA Region-5, at the Medina County Emergency Coordination Center & Classroom…
First day of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s Public Information Officer Course (G-290). Whohoo!!!!
Welcome and intros today by OEMA NE Region Supervisor Bob Zehentbauer.
Bob Z kicking off today’s Ohio EMA Basic PIO course.
(Bob-Mahalos for the kind words)
Special thanks to Medina County Emergency Management Agency and Director Christina Fozio for hosting this great all-hazards class.
Medina County EMA Director Christine Fozio with the best hospitality in the EOC!
This class, our participants hail from various disciplines including Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, Hospitals, Prison officials, Private Industry, Health Department, and Higher Education.
So many experiences to share especially with all the EOC activations we had in the past 5 years here in NE Ohio. Castro case, Ebola, Pepper Pike Tornado, Flooding, Operations Barclay, Hurricane Sandy, etc…all are great experiences that we as instructors can share our experiences with our participants.
I believe the best part about the G-290 course? The on-camera interviews for everyone.
One camera for face, one camera for body language, and a tricky “reporter” asking questions.
Many instructors shy away from this task because they don’t have the time, experience, or even the equipment. However, I believe that it is imperative we have these tools that simulate real-life situations. We as instructors should provide the most realistic examples of in-field experiences for all participants.
For those attending, we will never compromise. We will always provide the best class.
Period.
Spent my day volunteering with my hometown Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
On arrival, I thought I was going to get assigned a different task, but logistics and parking was the identified main concern and safety was an issue.
After I got briefed on the event, I discussed our situation with all the participants. As CERT, we coordinated our efforts so that our actions/tactics could best match the safety of our personnel as well as others who were there attending the event.
I briefed the Mayor on our ongoing operations and even looked at a few alternate plans.
Of course we continued to assess our event and think about other safety measures.
And of course we had a few moments to share a smile.
Fun fact, our Council President and Safety Chair is also a proud founding member of my awesome CERT Team. Booya!
Seriously, I love it when elected members of local government give back to their community.
We identified a few issues that will need to be made for the 2016 event (like a formal all-hazards traffic plan with maps, uniformed vests, pre-event plan dissemination/distribution, more participation, etc…). Maybe a formal Incident Action Plan (IAP). Fairly easy stuff that we would be happy to share w/ our constituents.
Wait….What? You have never heard of FEMA’s CERT program before? Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
More info can be found on FEMA’s website here.
Want to volunteer within your own community? Want to make a difference in your community? Click here to locate the closest CERT Team to you!
As always, I believe I can make a difference in my community. Fun fact: I’ve been volunteering with my CERT since 2007.
I hope you will do the same.
Also had a chance to be one of the first instructors to deliver the new social media engagement presentation for FEMA/NDPTC.
Florida State University uses social media heavily to engage and inform their entire student body, faculty, as well as alumni of events ongoing on campus at Tallahassee.
FSU have a great social media presence. Consider following them @KeepFSUSafe @FSUAlerts @FloridaState #LifeAtFSU
Not only on a computer but from various mobile platforms and public warning systems too! Well done FSU!
A very special thanks to my awesome co-instructor Jennifer aka call sign: “other”.
Such a great adventure! Very proud of the work I’ve been assigned.
Reporting live from FEMA Region-4!
I rolled out my new FEMA presentation for FEMA Region-4 peeps at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL.
At this time, this course is the semi-final pilot so I’m almost there!
Obvs, I had to incorporate a great preparedness campaign from my friends at the CDC. Have you heard of their preparedness campaign before? It costed the CDC a killer $87 (Get it? I’m so punny).
How about them Zombies?
Classroom activities make it easier for our all-hazards partners to come up with good messaging during preparedness, response, and recovery.
Shared experiences and open discussion amongst public safety providers allows for solid social media solutions to be developed for many common issues.
Participants use various hardware and software platforms to complete each assigned performance-based task. This showcases the spectrum of social media that spans hardware and software differences.
Final will be presented for certification in August in FEMA Region-9 at the State of California Emergency Operations Center located in Sacramento.
So nervous! But seriously, I’m so excited for this project, I can’t even…
In with the new – instructing another semi-final pilot for this FEMA course.
Why? Because social media is all about engagement.
Fun stuff in FEMA Region-4 at the Florida State University.
Did someone say more cowbell? How about even more Aloha in South Dakota!
Not to be outdone, today’s class had to show more Aloha than the previous class.
What do you think?
IMHO, I think there is a ton more Aloha in South Dakota this week.
Mahalos to the Pennington County Emergency Management Agency Director Willett and Deputy Director White for hosting. Looking forward to the next class!
Bringing a little Aloha to South Dakota – great class today at Pennington County Emergency Management Agency.
Now use your SM/PIO skills for good!
Looking forward to today’s class.
Where is @rusnivek? 