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…
Morning briefing in the EOC with the State of Illinois USAR TaskForce-1.
Special thanks to OTFPD Chief Ralph DeLucca on providing information on their response as well as their resources.
It is imperative that Emergency Managers continually learn about teams and resources from their jurisdictions. In crisis, there will be no time to forge these relationships. Your interactions will be judged on how seamless your operations and rollout goes.
Experience will show itself in seconds. In order to call the shots, you have to talk the talk and have to have walked the walk.
Trust me, people are watching.
And judging.
Reporting live from the EOC this morning….
Congrats to Prince George County Fire PIO Mark Brady on a well deserved upcoming retirement from decades of service to public safety and PIOs.
I have been fortunate to know and work with Mark over the years in professional circles. Legit nice guy and consummate professional.
When I received this note, I was exhausted from working back-to-back Hurricane Irma/Maria Type-1 Federal disasters for months. Worked to the bone and getting very little sleep, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on.
I am grateful for Mark’s specific note to me. And in PIO classes, I talk frequently about Mark’s actions but when it comes to nurturing/growing PIOs, Mark took the time to check in on my well being and safety. Trust me when I tell you, I needed to see this note.
Related: For those that used Brady EMS books, that would be the same family – so yeah, Mark’s family is a legacy in public safety.
Congrats Mark. Enjoy retirement. Indeed, our paths will cross again. #PIO
Day-2 of the FEMA All-Hazards NIMS ICS Incident Management Team (IMT) Logistics Section Chief (LSC) Course.
It is refreshing to see so many LEOs attending and welcome to the DuPage County OHSEM!
Just remember, Logistics makes the world go round.
This week, our office is hosting the FEMA All Hazards NIMS ICS Incident Management Team Logistics Section Chief course.
Welcome to our house.
You hanging with us this week?
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I’m about to die.
Glug glug glug – I measured it w/ water and turkey in the pot.
So it’s a calculated amount of peanut oil in there.
Just to be on the safe side, I’ll leave a little room for turkey expansion.
Maybe my camera puts on more pounds. HA!
OK, my propane tank is as far away as I can get it.
Don’t think I want an explosion.
Then, in case things go bad, I got some protective gear.
Awww yeah baby! Warm AND protected!
And maybe, if things go bad, I can Hong Kong Phooey kick it into the grass away from the building right?
Time to gear up!
Thinking back, this was probably a good idea to wear my turnout coat and gloves.
Yeah, I think Chicago has had a big fire before.
Yikes.
Buuuuuuuuuuut why does my turkey look like its on a cross?!?!?!??!?!?
.
But first, lemme take a selfie…
…for proof of life.
Fire is on. Waaaaaaaaaaaaay hot.
What? Did you say drop it like it’s hot?!?!
Awwwww yeah, time to get crazy-let’s drop this sucker in.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
HHOOLLEEEYYYYY MOOOOOOOLEEEYYYYY!
DDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAYYYUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am I at the bottom yet?!?!!??! OMG! Why is this soooooo frickin hot!!!!!
Well, so far so good! I haven’t burned anything….yet.
I also took the time to clear away any brush and debris from the area. Also notice the brick non-wood sprinklered building next to me?
Additional information, I also had backup from a retired Fire Chief from the State of Ohio Fire Marshall’s Office right next to me. Despite a whole bunch of white helmets, it was definitely worth having a backup!
Did I have a backup plan? You know I did. First off, I would NOT have done this.
Second, if things got bad, I would have definitely called 9-1-1.
The last thing I need is my friends from CFD getting pissed. Tho, TBH, they would have made me fill out the NIFRS report.
And third, this was the backup plan.
Yeah, the IMT PSC and FEMA MCP comes out more often than you think.
So in the end, everything turned out great. Turkey was awesome and soooo delicious.
Few deep frying turkey tips for you:
This year, our family invited a few new Navy family and friends over for dinner.
Glad to spend Thanksgiving with those who protect our freedoms 24-7.
We all have much to be thankful for this year.
Day-3 of the Joint Information Center/Joint Information System course here at the Indianapolis Fire Headquarters.
This place is super nice…
…and a bonus welcome by the Chief of the department – Fire Chief Malone!
Outstanding to see that kind of engagement of a large metro fire department stop by to say hi. And of course the IFD PIO BC Rita Reith working the PIO magic too!
Great discussion on when situations get worse…ie disaster declarations and how as situations start to grow, how we as a nation respond to help assist others.
You know we had lots of discussion on JIC/JIS operations and needs.
Also discussed how the executive policy room could affect actions of the field PIOs as well as the JIC – which stresses the need for solid, one voice communications from the Emergency Operations Center.
I know, I know, coordination again huh? But it’s the truth! If we don’t work together, we will likely fail our constituents. We must work together to support our ongoing efforts of safety with all our partners.
Great dialog on mutual aid partnerships. Regardless of the situation, we can all work closely with each other and share ideas.
Me? I am very proud of the work from everyone in the class this week.
Looking forward to working with all of you during the next big one.
Until then, go forth and tweet good stuff!
Day-1 of the FEMA Basic PIO course here in Indianapolis!
Glad to be teaching with FEMA Master PIO Erica Creech…
…and WTFD Capt Mike Pruitt…
…and oh a quick surprise….FEMA Master PIO Rita Reith!
That’s right, for those of you keeping score, this is the first time 3 FEMA Master PIOs have taught the Basic PIO Course. Whoop whooop!
Don’t worry, we did some on camera interviews as well as some fun dialog with out class that hail from Indiana and Kentucky!
We talked about press conferences and the importance and the need for onscene communications not only with the news media, but also the general public. Like the breaking news coming out of Mercy Hospital in Chicago.
Also sharing some stories of breaking news in Cleveland.
Great dynamic and solid discussion from everyone who attended today’s first day of FEMA Basic PIO!
Starting out the Advanced PIO class week with the big cheese – a warm EMI welcome from the new FEMA EMI Deputy Superintendent Steve Heidecker!
My buddy!
Phil laying down the usual ground rules like…
And yes, today, I was fortunate enough to introduce my favorite Indianapolis Fire Department Batt Chief/PIO Extraordinaire….Ladies and Gents….put your hands together for BC Rita Reith!!!!!
Glad to see so many of my former students come here to FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute for more training. And they get to hear my same PIO instructor jokes again.
PC: Cody McDonell
And great to meet so many of online peeps for the very first time aka #IRL. Yes of course there will be lots of tweeting and #hastagging going on this week.
You in my class? Holla yo!
Reporting live from FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute’s Advanced Public Information Officers class…
Sooooo, is this like a winter condom for your fire hydrant?
Glow in the dark reflective so you can find it better in the dark!!!
I love the extra effort people make to support their local fire department.
#SafetySur approves!
Where is @rusnivek? 