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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

February is almost all Region-5 and a roll out of a brand new social media course in Colorado

Posted on February 4, 2017 by rusnivek

January was fast paced but February 2017 is going to be lots more hustle too!

In the first week, its another great Basic Public Information Officer’s course and Joint Information Center course at Wayne Township Fire. Love me some Region-5 baby!

Second week, I’ll be leading the Incident Management Team Logistics Section Chief Course in Dayton – the home of Ohio Urban Search and Rescue Task Force-1 (OH-TF-01). Teaching FEMA EMI courses are super fun. Week long Logistics is AWESOME!

Third week, we will be back in Athens, Ohio bringing our Basic Public Information Officer’s course (G-290) and Joint Information Center course (G-291) with one of my favorite instructors Erica aka Mama PIO in Region-5 again!

Fourth week, I head back to Centennial to debut a brand new course for FEMA/NDPTC on social media. Looking forward to seeing my Colorado peeps again at the state Emergency Operations Center. Region 8 in the hizzouse!

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Busy February! Hope to see you my classes!

@rusnivek

JICing it out today in class

Posted on February 2, 2017 by rusnivek

Solid Thursday talking about Joint Information Centers (JICs) and Joint Information Systems (JISs).

Additionally, seeing how our Federal partners build into local and state response is key to showcase how everyone works together.

It is imperative that we continue to push the efforts of our all-hazards partners in public safety to ensure our community ability to return to normal after any disaster.

Later this afternoon, we’ll dive into some social media tech stuff including a bit on intelligence. Hope to share the power of social media with my new peeps.

PC Credit: Nina

Also, I hope they now use their social media powers for good!

@rusnivek

Setting up for this week’s classes

Posted on January 30, 2017 by rusnivek

Setting up all the fun today for our Basic PIO course and JIC/JIS course.

Both these FEMA courses are cornerstone classes that all external affairs professionals should take. Additionally, the emergency management/disaster response networking opportunities are outstanding.

And yes, we are going to do some on camera interviews too.

Bring your A-game.

Hope to see you in my class tomorrow.

@rusnivek

Need a backup EOC? I bet you can identify this one

Posted on January 12, 2017 by rusnivek

For my Emergency Management Pros – have you done your continuity planning yet?

What? You don’t have a backup Emergency Operations Center?!?

Let me help you for free: Sports-type restaurants can easily double as an Emergency Operations Center.

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Oh schnikies – he’s right!

Remember on September 11th, FDNY had to move their EOC multiple times because of increased hazards, inaccessibility, and debris?

More planning? Any of the FEMA credentialed Master Continuity Practitioners can help you out…like me.

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Likely this could be a good alternate to any Emergency Operations Center right? Large parking lot, ability to provide food, bathrooms, etc….all the stuff we need.

So yes, if you are short on funding, consider identifying a few neighborhood sports restaurants as backup emergency operations centers in your AOR and mutual aid districts/regions.

@rusnivek

Final day of OEMA ICS-400 at Belmont College #AlohaFriday

Posted on November 4, 2016 by rusnivek

Final Day of Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) ICS-400 class.

Lots of discussion on Area Command, MAC, Unified Command, EMAC, Declaration process, etc…

Talking about MACs (not Big Macs) made me kinda hungry for lunch.

Also discussion on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region-5 Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC)…

…and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Headquarters National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) in Washington DC.

Cameo appearance by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate

I don’t know about your ICS-400 class, but my class was all smiles.

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And yes, no worries, I’m wearing an #AlohaShirt today.

Special thanks to Belmont College for hosting this great OEMA class.

Happy #AlohaFriday everyone!

@rusnivek

2016 World Series Game-2 field work for PIOs #GoTribe #RallyTogether

Posted on October 27, 2016 by rusnivek

Doing some Public Information Officer (PIO) stuff during the 2016 World Series was fun.

Like in any deployment, don’t forget to sign in, or else Jobu will chase you down!

Jobu says sign in on the ICS-211 form #GoTribe #MajorLeague

Stadium was packed!

2016 World Series game-2: Chicago Cubs vs Cleveland Indians

Don’t think it’s all glamour, PIOs spend gobs of time crafting specific messages tailored to each situation.

PIOs in the midst of discussing the use of gifs.

In the end, ESF-15 and all PIOs/PAOs are there to support all of our partners in public safety.

ESF-15 in the hizzouse!

Looking forward to game-3 in Chicago.

Slider and Rusnivek

#GoTribe #RallyTogether

@rusnivek

More Emergency Management interviews at #IAEM16

Posted on October 19, 2016 by rusnivek

It was super fun to interview Jody today at the 2016 International Association of Emergency Management Conference.

Emergency Management Officer Jody Hodge from the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency (Alabama)

Why is Jody so awesome?

Yeah, we talked about preparedness, talked about disaster kits, talked about natural disasters…But to close the interview, he said “Aloha y’all!”

Reporting live from #IAEM16

@rusnivek

NRCC from Level II to Enhanced Watch #Hurricane #Matthew

Posted on October 11, 2016 by rusnivek

From FEMA Disaster Operations:

Washington, DC, Part of the DHS seal, the FEMA logo and the DHS Flag, on the wall in the National Response and Coordination Center. FEMA/Bill Koplitz

“Today, the National Response Coordination Center, in coordination with Region IV and field leadership, transitioned from Level II activation to an Enhanced Watch.”

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@rusnivek

Day-3 Ohio EMA ICS 300 course with 911 PSAP & Belmont County EMA EOC

Posted on October 6, 2016 by rusnivek

Third and final day of the Ohio EMA ICS-300 course at Belmont College.

PhotoCredit: @BelmontCollege

Mid morning, we had lots of great discussion for formal demobilization plans as well priority release procedures.

Our class had some serious discussion on cost vs expectations on resources. If you’ve ever been deployed to a disaster, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Rounding out to the last module, almost test time!

After the class was over, I was able to score a visit to Belmont County 911 dispatch center for our class. So I invited the whole class to attend too!

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Special thanks to Mr. Hudak for the tour and detailed explanation on normal operations in their Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) / 911 call center.

Our class then moved over to the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency where our class was given a formal tour of their Emergency Operation Center (EOC).

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They just happen to be monitoring Hurricane Matthew – so that made it even better for all participants to see how this EOC can monitor any situation in real time. Thank you Belmont County EMA!

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Positions ready…Executive Policy Room ready…ARES Comms center ready…fully operational…who could ask for anything more?!!?!? Even the bonus resources they have were great to see how they could support operations and paint a better picture to increase situational awareness / common operating picture (SA/COP).

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