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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

A few moments with my favorite JIC Managers

Posted on January 28, 2020 by rusnivek

A glimmering light of happiness as I got a chance to spend a few moments with my favorite Joint Information Center (JIC) Managers Beth DeJesus and Erica Creech.

(L to R): Beth DeJesus, Kevin Sur, and Erica Creech. Photo cred: EllaMonster

Beth and Erica were my JIC Managers throughout the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Additionally, Beth was the Cleveland JIC Manager during the December 2016 Christmas plane crash out of Burk e. Erica was my JIC Manager during the 2014 Ebola case in Cleveland, 2012 Hurricane Sandy Response, and the 2013 three girls missing in Cleveland case.

During our quick meet up, we talked about work/careers and ongoing efforts. And yeah, they tried to get me to move back to Cleveland.

But most importantly, we talked about family, kids, and the things that really mattered. Hard to believe but this PIO thing isn’t easy and in leadership roles, it’s hard to find people/friends who truly understand the complexities of the position and can sympathize in the daily challenging situations. We all have armor, we just need to decide how long we wear our protective gear.

Just like back in the day, we were able to slot back into our normal self and the redic things that come with Emergency Support Function ESF-15. I miss that kind of camaraderie and the cohesive bonds we shared with so many of our public safety partners from across the state.

Yeah, I miss my favorite JIC Managers…

@rusnivek

Day-2 of the State of Ohio #Basic #PIO class #Summit

Posted on February 21, 2018 by rusnivek

Day-2 of the State of Ohio Basic Public Information Officers’ Course here in Summit County. And yaaassss, #OnWednesdaysWeWearPink!

Started off the morning talking about interview skills and techniques that are readily used by both PIOs and Reporters/Photojournalists.

Reviewed all oncamera interviews from all the participants in our class.

We want to prepare our new PIOs with the best training so they are capable off hitting the ground running representing their agency positively in a crisis or emergency.

Steve brought in the Team from WKYC (NBC affiliate) Akron Office to be our panel discussion.

Lots of great points including what could make or break a PIO – esp for a close tight knit community like Akron and Summit County. Special thanks to Reporter Amani Abraham and Photojournalist Carl Bachtel on their insight to news media.

PC: Bosso

I was able to get my friend Cleveland Police PIO Sgt Jennifer Ciaccia to give a dual presentation with me on the 2016 Republican National Convention and other Cleveland activities.

As a team, Jen and I are solid, but we recognize that others are needed to establish the efforts of PIOing within their own communities – no matter pre-planned event or emergency.

And yes, we addressed how PIOs need to keep current on social media trends esp on national cool campaigns…like the mannequin challenge.

Again, special thanks to Jen on the support of today’s State of Ohio Basic PIO class.

PC: Bosso

Afternoon was dedicated to the PIO TTX. We setup two groups with all participants for the in class mock press conference and they did a solid job. Both groups worked together…

…and formulated talking points….

…organized and strategically thought out a press conferences agenda…

…prepped speakers…

And of course controlled the unruly fictitious media reps from OZRadio, WTF, and the YellowBrickRoadNews. FEMA Phil and USFA Tom would be so proud of us MPIOs to see us working the press conference part of the class.

Another great day for PIO training in the State of Ohio!

@rusnivek

Another G0291 JIS JIC course for PIOs in Athens County #Ohio #AlohaFriday

Posted on February 17, 2017 by rusnivek

Leading off another Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) G-0291: Joint Information System / Joint Information Center Planning for Tribal, State, and Local PIOs.

We have a few new additions to our class – who hail from across Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia.

Glad to have so many pros with us in class…esp for #AlohaFriday – yeah baby!

PC: J. Beckett

Always an Aloha shirt on Fridays.

Lots of group work and discussion as everyone contributes information to better their communities.

It is helpful because our participants have diverse backgrounds.

Almost all Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) were represented.

This allowed us to have an in-depth discussion and think outside the box to solve various in class table top exercises.

Instructors we able to facilitate discussion among groups providing the opportunity to enhance their response with immediate communication strategies and tactics for emergency notification.

Also lots of discussion of the benefits and pitfalls of the JIC vs the JIS.

Additionally, the class wanted to see a few pictures from our Joint Information Center (JIC) during the 2016 RNC (2016 Republican National Convention).

We obliged and showed a few pictures.

Glad to have the chance to present before the PIOs from Athens County and beyond.

Special thanks to Dan in coordinating this training with Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Proud to have so many different agencies represented.

Looking forward to working with each of these PIOs in a JIC!

@rusnivek

PIO Tip: Frame your shot and reduce your onscene variables

Posted on August 16, 2016 by rusnivek

I was finishing up my AARs and found a picture from the last night of the Republican National Convention (RNC).

Quick tip for you PIOs doing field reporting: Frame your shot.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams doing an interview with Time Magazine. Obvious chalked roadway with profane statement behind him. Videographer is recording at an upward angle to frame his subject.

During the RNC, we found that it was critical to frame the shot. Onscene shots were particularly tough because so many activist groups had signs, chalked, or painted words that are inappropriate for pictures or even worse yet, uncontrolled live broadcast hits (Periscope or FacebookLive or YouTubeLive).

Additionally, live outdoor broadcasts from the scene are challenging because it is difficult to control the natural and man-made variables.

So as PIOs we need to reduce any signs, ropes, wires, etc….that could affect your framed shot.

Trust me, reduce the amount of variables to a bare minimum.

Focus your energy in delivering your message. #PIO

@rusnivek

Protest after protest after protest

Posted on July 19, 2016 by rusnivek

Lots of different groups demonstrated in Public Square today.

Too many to count.

Everyone wanted to be heard/seen.

packed

After things got rowdy, Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) worked closely together to keep the peace. disbursing hundreds upon hundreds of protesters is not an easy task.

empty

I can’t tell you how proud I am of all the ESF-13 resources that are deployed from across this great country to support our event.

@rusnivek

Dispelling rumors. Thanks Reuters.

Posted on July 19, 2016 by rusnivek

Day-2 in the Joint Information Center starts out with…dispelling rumors!

Reuters reported that a Cleveland Police Transport van was shot near the Republican National Convention utilizing the #RNCinCLE.
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#booya Reuters.

Immediate engagement using (retweeting) incorrect info.

Then JIC emailed out information to all media on media lists.

Also because of time and deluge of phone calls, the onslaught of emails, and the avalanche on social media…

Being nimble on multiple social media platforms, immediate dispelling of rumor in a public forum, and use of all associative hashtags was deliberate and purposeful.

Solid JIC work today PIO peeps!

@rusnivek

Doctoring images to incite fear = not cool #SMEM #PIO #RNCINFO #Safety-SM-16-004

Posted on July 16, 2016 by rusnivek

Lots of BSery going on.

@TKDMike pushed this image out on 07-16-16 at 1902 EST trying to portray that Cleveland is burning dumpsters tonight for the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Orig tweet w/ image found here

That image looked weird to me.

So let’s look a little closer shall we?

A simple online search found this exact image used multiple times.

Once as a meme for protesters in the UK

zX_0CjO37DFTB_Y4tu9IRqWkGMSqCDOCBbD4aWHhobo

Made into a UK Meme

Yep. That’s weird.

Then the same image, slightly better quality found on imgur from 10 months ago.

From imgur

Again, double weird.

Then I found the original.

On flickr by Brian Neumann (2011)

Game-7 from the Stanley Cup in 2011. Appropriate photo credit to Brian Neumann.

In the initial @tkdmike post from 07-16-16, he has embellished the image and added the Quicken Loans Arena logo and an RNC2016 logo to the dumpster. Additionally, behind the gal on the right is also a photoshopped sign for Trump2016. **Clearly against the orig photo by Brian CA Neumann on 06-16-2011 on Flickr. The sign should not read “Trump 2016”, it should read “Sunrise Kitchens” – also note the hockey jersey.

Doctoring images to push political agenda or incite fear = not cool.

Canada image from 2011 –> fake it to be a Cleveland image in 2016 = not cool.

It’s going to be a long NSSE.

Reporting live from the JIC…..

@rusnivek