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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

The 2018 Hurricane VTC at FEMA HQ in the NRCC

Posted on May 30, 2018 by rusnivek

Making the hop to Washington DC.

Fun day ahead as we kickoff 2018 Hurricane season with a national VTC at FEMA HQ.

In the National Response Coordination Center, the same place where we brief our partners from across the nation during critical events, emergencies, and/or disasters.

Introductions by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long.

Additional information provided from USNORTHCOM/NORAD Commander General Terrence O’Shaughnessy, Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Dr. Neil Jacobs, and the National Hurricane Center/NOAA Director Kenneth Graham with a brief outlook for the 2018 Hurricane season.

We heard briefings from Region-4, Region-1, Region-2, Region-3, Region-6, and Region-9 on testing communications capabilities across state/region and hurricane shortfalls from 2017 and last-mile logistical capability.

Look closely, we had the White House jump in on the call too.

Special call-ins from the State of Maryland Emergency Management Agency’s (MEMA) Executive Director Russell Strickland who was calling in from catastrophic flooded Ellicott City, Maryland.

Great to see so many partners providing insight into their programs.

Their pre-existing relationships for local, state, and Federal partnerships will enhance the response and recovery piece for any area affected by hurricanes.

Special shout out to FEMA IGA Ryan Streeter who was deployed with me during Hurricane Irma in the Florida Keys.

Working the magic for IGA today. Glad to be part of the team.

Also glad to see Gloria, Nicole, Kia, Al, and Sarah today too.

@rusnivek

Kicking off 2018 #Hurricane season this Wednesday with DHS Secretary Nielsen and FEMA Administrator Long

Posted on May 29, 2018 by rusnivek

Kicking off 2018 #Hurricane season this Wednesday with Department of Homeland Security (@DHSgov) Secretary Kristjen Nielsen and Federal Emergency Management Agency (@FEMA) Administrator Brock Long (@FEMA_Brock).

@rusnivek

DHS Surge Capacity Force for FEMA

Posted on May 16, 2018 by rusnivek

Also, remember when I talked about working together so that in a disaster things go well? Here’s the article I worked on w/ CBP as part of the DHS “Surge Capacity Force” ramp up to support FEMA.

Teri Villarreal, usually an import specialist with CBP’s Rosemont, Illinois, office, helps residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands as a member of FEMA’s Surge Capacity Force. FEMA photo by Kevin Sur

See, partnerships are key in the success of any agency’s mission.

Continue to explore working with your partners in public safety!

@rusnivek

A little love from the USVI

Posted on February 27, 2018 by rusnivek

Awww! A little USVI love came in the mail today.

Mahalos to everyone in the United States Virgin Islands!

@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

Day-1 of the OhioEMA Basic #PIO class in Summit County

Posted on February 20, 2018 by rusnivek

Packed house as we start another Ohio EMA Basic Public Information Officer Course in Summit County, Ohio!

Special thanks to Jena and all the pros at Summit County Emergency Management Agency.

Great diverse crowd from various backgrounds allow us to have wide discussions on topics. With so many disciplines represented, we had a deep dive into lots of classroom tabletop activities for PIOs.

Remember, its our job to align ourselves with those SMART Objectives, then analyze our audiences, then write specific messaging to our targets audiences.

Easy peasy right? In person classes like the Social Media for Disaster Response and Recovery as well as Social Media Tools & Techniques. And of course don’t forget all those fun online FEMA Independent Study classes too. (all classes are no cost)

And of course we did the oncamera PIO interviews today. Staple of our class!

Last part of the day, we hit the social media section hard cause we talked a ton about case studies highlighting success stories and pitfalls in social media use. And of course, don’t forget to get #slizzerd

Tweet responsibly peeps!

Reporting live from Summit County…

@rusnivek

2018 Master Public Information Officer Program #Squad

Posted on February 16, 2018 by rusnivek

My #Squad

2018 Master Public Information Officer #SquadGoals

Happy Aloha Friday everyone!

@rusnivek

Day-3 of the APIO course with the Master PIOs at FEMA’s EMI

Posted on February 14, 2018 by rusnivek

Day-3 of the Advanced PIO course and today, we see some structure!

No doubt there was going to be some stuff on ICS forms because we got some…

…ICS-215s forms for the win!

And of course more interviews because evacuation and shelter information is super important. So bring on the interviews!

And yes, it’s not easy being green!

BTW-human with pet sheltering is totes important so make sure you know exactly what kind of message you want to pass on.

Lots of work on camera esp focusing in on joint press conferences…

…and of course solid reporter questions too.

#WeWearPinkOnWednesdays

At the end of the class, MPIOs initiated a panel discussion with Rita and I on public information.

PC: Joe

Yep, an unfiltered look into PIO stuff for anyone. We as PIOs should not remain silent.

I am convinced that we are to share knowledge and enhance other PIO’s skills. Because “a rising tide raises all ships” right?

Reporting live from the External Affairs side of the house at the Emergency Management Institute…

@rusnivek

Day-1 of the Advanced PIO class at FEMA’s EMI! #MPIO

Posted on February 12, 2018 by rusnivek

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…

Don’t look for Camp David.
Don’t open windows.
Don’t touch helos.
Don’t break anything.

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.