City of Chicago OEMC, JIC, PSAP, and other stuff while hanging in the Bat cave

Good morning from the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications!

Located in the heart of the west loop, this multi functional location serves as a focal point for City EOC, JIC, Snow Command, PW EOC, Ops Center, 911 PSAP, etc….basically, I’m glad it’s a hardened facility.

Today’s Emergency Management topics have to deal with Disaster Assistance and Public Assistance. Hiya Wendellllllllllllllllllllllllll.

Of course, as a good Emergency Manager, we want to take a look at the host city’s EOP.

Lots to discern and digest from our partners.

Now, for those who refuse to share information and hold information tight to their chest….that’s dumb. You realize when the big one hits, your isolationist actions will prove to be detrimental to the success of the response/recovery of any emergency. Again, work closely with your partners BEFORE a disaster.

Looking down into the PSAP center floor, lots of call takers working the good for the community.

PSAPs and EOCs are kept relatively dark to help with eye strain. Telecommunications have a tough job. If you haven’t already done so, I’d recommend that you sit in their chair one day and observe. Quite honestly, I’d take working the squad any day.

Quick look into the City of Chicago’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) too.

And calm yourself PIOs….I found it.

Get your City of Chicago Joint Information Center (JIC) on baby! I sense I will be spending activation time here soon.

And yes, I’m wearing a tie.

As we close out response/recovery discussions for the day, we must spend more time thinking about cross training and enhancing our multi-jurisdictional skills. Working together is critical to any event or incident. We must overcome the stigma and the predisposed notion of kingdoms and fiefdoms. We must work together before a disaster. This will result in better response collaboration and recovery efforts.

Where am I? They threw up the bat signal so….

Reporting live from the Bat Cave:

I’m Batman….I mean @rusnivek

To my fellow Americans….Happy 4th of July! #2018

To my fellow Americans….Happy 4th of July!!!

Cleveland, Ohio - 4th of July!

Cleveland, Ohio – 4th of July!

Here’s a few easy preparedness tips from the team at FEMA.

  • Leave the fireworks to the pros.
  • Keep children & pets at least 3 ft from grills & campfires.
  • Drink plenty of water – even if you don’t feel thirsty.
  • Check in on friends, family, & neighbors who don’t air conditioning.

And for those who are stuck inside/have to work, here’s a few fun option for you.

Maybe NYC is better?

No? How about Chicago?

Well, whatever you do, just keep it real safe everyone.

Happiest birthday to the greatest country in the world. #USA

America the beautiful.

@rusnivek

 

Monroe County Townhall Community Meeting tonight

Held the first Monroe County Townhall Community Meeting tonight. PIOs in action! They said there would be about 30 people there. But…


…I think someone misjudged the attendance.

We had several partners that attended as well. Glad to have participation from Red Cross.


PIO Sur reporting live from the stage here in Marathon City Park…
@rusnivek

Tools for live broadcast for City of Cleveland peeps

Thursday fun with numerous Public Information Officers from the City of Cleveland.

Quick presentation on Tools and Social Media Platforms specifically addressing live broadcast technologies and lessons learned.

Yes, I’ll promise to show them my PIO stick (aka my GOT rod)

Great to see so many familiar faces in the crowd today.

@rusnivek

 

Closing PIO & Social Media Session at the 63rd Annual Wayne County Fire School

Presenting today at the 63rd Annual Wayne County Fire School (Ohio).

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And yes, I get to crack the awesome social media jokes on THE Ohio State University campus.

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Lots of Firefighters and Paramedics from all over.

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Many familiar faces in the audience too!

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Event organizers estimate over 100 attendees with numerous vendors on site including Metro LifeFlight, Cleveland Clinic, and MedFlight of Ohio. Helicopters!

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Me? I’m just glad to participate.

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Yep, that’s a suit.

Also, kudos to a fellow Firefighter WHFD FF Gary Klaus who was named this year’s Fire School Honorary Dean.

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Intro music (GNR’s Paradise City) playing for the afternoon session. #excited.

PIO and Social Media skillz in 3…2…1…

@rusnivek

 

We have the ability to better prepare our peeps for disasters or emergencies #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon #SaferOhio

“All I’m saying is that starting in Ohio and to the rest of the country, we have the ability to better prepare our peeps for disasters or emergencies.” – K. Sur

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We all have outstanding communities in each of our 88 counties in Ohio. When they engage with numerous all-hazards public safety professionals, it becomes a whole community effort in preparedness. In essence, these are core programs that everyone can participate.

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When the community gets involved, everyone wins.

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So c’mon – get involved in your community.

CERT: Community Emergency Response Team

ViPS: Volunteers in Police Service

MRC: Medical Reserve Corp

VOAD: Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Fire Corps

Civil Air Patrol

Neighborhood Watch Program

American Radio Relay League

Veterans Active in Citizen Corps

American Red Cross

Meals on Wheels Association of America

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“Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.”

@rusnivek

 

Ears ringing because @rusnivek representing at #3CMAAnnual #PIO class!

Rumor has it that my friend Erica mentioned me in class today at #3CMAAnnual Conference today during her PIO Class.

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So alohas to my new peeps!

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Welp, you know that kind of class mention deserves some root beer floats!

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Cheers everyone – and many mahalos to Creech for the mention.

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Yep, I’m not even there!

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Photo cred: K. Tunell

More like sliding into 3CMAAnnual’s feed…

@rusnivek

 

Social Media Day-2 at the Oklahoma State Department of Health

Strong classroom engagement yesterday with many military personnel attending including a Lieutenant Colonel. But today’s class? They are asking some serious deep social media questions too!

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Including FacebookLive! So, like any hands-on PIO instructor, I decided to grab one of them and do a live demo. Say hello to USAF OK ANG PAO Brigette Waltermire!

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Showcasing some social media live streaming magic to the class.

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During the break, I was able to demo how we do the behind the scenes stuff so that the PIOs/PAOs in the audience can see how much work goes into a two-minute interview.

Special mahalos to my friend Amber for the invite to Oklahoma again.

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I am fortunate to have so much fun teaching in Region-6 with great peeps!

@rusnivek

Newly revised Social Media course in OK

Breaking open the seal on the newly revised DHS / FEMA / NDPTC Social Media for Natural Disasters Response and Recovery course.

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Break out all my best #octothorp jokes now…

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…cause it’s going to be a fun day in the OSDH Situation Room!

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Reporting live from OK…

@rusnivek