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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

Another solid JIC JIS course on #AlohaFriday

Posted on July 7, 2017 by rusnivek

Today is DHS/FEMA’s G-291: JIC/JIS planning for Tribal, State, and Local PIOs!

Lots to talk about esp coordination with various all-hazards agencies.

Also glad to share a few PIO/JIC stories on 3-girls that were missing for 10+ years as well as the 2016 NBA Championships, Republican National Convention, 2016 World Series, and 2017 NBA Championships.

On top of that, our class wanted to know more about social media so I can indulge a bit. Not only on #s, geolocation, platforms, etc….but also lots on newer wearable technology too.

As always in any class we instruct, we try to make fun and exciting. And yes, thumbs up for PIOs!

Special thanks to WTFD Capt Mike Pruitt for the coordination and hospitality.. Glad to see so many new PIOs in the audience.

Happy Aloha Friday peeps!

@rusnivek

Day-2 of FEMA Basic Public Information Officer Program

Posted on July 6, 2017 by rusnivek

Day-2 of FEMA’s Basic Public Information Officer Couse started out with reviews of all crisis interviews.

Collaborating on communications tactics with various agencies allows PIOs to craft the right message – esp in a disaster.

Erica had a chance to share JIC efforts from the Republican National Convention.

And you know I shared some tactics and tips on ascertaining open source info utilizing geolocation/metadata during a National Special Security Event. I also chatted briefly about tools field PIOs should use when deployed out.

After lunch we were fortunate enough to hear from a great panel discussion: Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine, the Information Officer for central Indiana and RTV6’s Investigative reporter Paris Lewbel.

Both panelists candidly shared information with everyone attending.

Side note: Sgt John Perrine is the brains behind the truly viral PSA hit on vehicles turn signals. Check it out here.

Great to work with so many pros today.

@rusnivek

This week, we are starting another G290…

Posted on July 5, 2017 by rusnivek

Another great start to a solid G-290: Basic PIO Course with WTFD.

Greetings and welcome to everyone in Region-5 by Capt Mike Pruitt.

Started out the morning with building a base of core PIO principals including reviewing writing that targets a specific target audience.

Photo credit: M. Pruitt

Ahem. Press releases are almost dead.

Erica talked about how critical Incident Communications Analysis plays a big part in how our audience uses/digests information.

We started all the on-camera interviews after lunch. Lots of great interviews…

Photo credit: M. Pruitt

…and solid techniques showcased in the field interview exercises…

Photo credit: M. Pruitt

…many of the participants are already functioning as PIOs within their own communities.

Photo credit: M. Pruitt

Group work in the afternoon…

…with more discussion and reporting out of critical facts while writing talking points.

We are so fortunate to have such a diverse class of participants willing to share information.

Reporting live from the most funnest PIO class ever…

@rusnivek

Ahhh another packed July!

Posted on July 1, 2017 by rusnivek

Hello July! Is it really 3Q already?!?

First week I’ll be teaching another FEMA’s Basic PIO Course with JIC/JIS at WTFD. (How about them acronyms!)

Second week will be another ICS-400 course in the Emergency Operations Center

Along with another JIC/JIS course, third week will be spent at the COOP site. Wheeee.

Fourth week will include another PIO exercise specifically focusing in on social media. I’ll also need to confirm our 3Q PIO/PAO Training with NBC for our TaskForce.

Lots of planning meeting sprinkled into the mix and randomly working out of the COOP site will test operational readiness. Fun times.

@rusnivek

Day-1 of IMT Incident Commander course at OEMA

Posted on June 19, 2017 by rusnivek

Morning Ohio EMA! #Mothership

Welcome to the first day of NIMS ICS Incident Management Team Incident Commander course!

Got a quick welcome from Ohio EMA Training & Exercise David Nunley.

Lots to discuss including responsibilities, leadership, and of course paperwork (ICS forms).

Great first day with participants from Ohio, New Mexico, Oregon, and Georgia with tons to digest in all the slides.

Lots.

Channeling my inner Patrick.

Looking forward to tomorrow!

@rusnivek

The smell of fresh EOC in the morning…for a brand new Social Media course in Colorado

Posted on February 22, 2017 by rusnivek

“I love the smell of fresh EOC in the morning…”

Let’s get our social media on!

Say #Aloha to the brand new FEMA / NDPTC Social Media Engagement Strategies class!

Reporting live from the State of Colorado Emergency Operations Center…

@rusnivek

Great first day of Basic Public Information Officer #PIO Course in Athens County Ohio

Posted on February 15, 2017 by rusnivek

Kicking off another solid FEMA / Ohio EMA Basic Public Information Officer’s course.

We have participants from across the state of Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia!

So Region-5 and Region-3 are well represented.

Proud to have a diverse class this week in Athens County, Ohio.

Lots of class engagement with several opening activities assessing preparedness levels as well as gaps in PIO responses.

Addressing difficult situations (aka anticipating media questions) with PIOs or agency heads before they happen is a critical skill that every PIO should master.

Deep discussion on how all-hazards PIOs could support various operations with public safety. Also dissecting how Strategic Communications play a crucial role in planning.

#StratComms4Lyfe

On camera mock media interviews in the afternoon with focus on answering questions, talking points, redirects, and of course preparedness. Great time to hone the skills of every PIO and agency head.

Show and tell on preparedness kits and PIO go readiness kits.

PC: E. Creech

Including my famous “PIO stick”

PC: J. Beckett

Looking forward to day-2!

@rusnivek

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!

fema_regional_map

Busy February! Hope to see you my classes!

@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

Humans all communicate differently…and speak lego

Posted on December 21, 2016 by rusnivek

As human beings, we all communicate differently.

No seriously, we do. However, if we can find a common language, we can better fulfill our SMART objective, implement our strategies, and of course utilize the right tactics.

Common language? Yes, we use legos to demonstrate this process.

Just one of the fun training tabletop exercises we run through during the Command and General Staff Training.

Additionally, I got to talk about preparedness efforts too.

c0ow-8tuuaaicv3

Fun stuff…doh!

@rusnivek