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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

FEMA launches Prepare with Pedro at the 2018 Youth Preparedness Council

Posted on July 18, 2018 by rusnivek

FEMA Region V Administrator James Joseph was in Washington DC today for the Youth Preparedness Council at Red Cross HQ.

Great to see Ready.Gov partnering with everyone on today’s events.

Additionally, download the free Prepare with Pedro workbook for kids here.

@rusnivek

New FEMA mission statement (effective 03-10-18)

Posted on March 4, 2018 by rusnivek

Quick DHS FEMA mission change.

Here’s the old mission statement…

Here’s the new one…

K-I-S-S right?

More information can be found here.

@rusnivek

TwitterChat on volunteers during disasters today at 1300EST #Prep2Serve #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon

Posted on September 9, 2016 by rusnivek

As part of 2016 National Preparedness Month – numerous preparedness peeps will be participating in today’s TwitterChat.

Gather tips and specific messaging that could work for your community on preparedness. Talk about different groups who are active within their community before, during, and after a disaster.

RH-CERT in action!

To keep the convo going, consider using the #Prep2Serve today.

See you at 1300EST!

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

@rusnivek

Solid group in my ICS-300 class at Washington County

Posted on May 5, 2014 by rusnivek

Had a solid day teaching ICS-300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents to various public safety professionals at Washington County EMA.

Solid group hailing from several different functional groups.

I really enjoy classes that have a good mix of participants. It makes the class WAY more interesting and allows more input into exercises during class.

Remember: At 0300, I’m not pretty. At 0300, you are not pretty. Best time to get to know each other is under bright lights and calm setting…like now. Learn what is important to each agency so that you can better support their mission and goals during a disaster or emergency.

@rusnivek

Tsunami warning? Are you on Kauai? #HITsunami

Posted on March 30, 2014 by rusnivek

Tsunami warning? Are you on Kauai?

Check if you are in an evacuation zone here (FREE):

Before a Tsunami

To begin preparing, you should build an emergency preparedness kit and make a family communications plan.
Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a tsunami occurs. Create and practice an evacuation plan for your family. Familiarity may save your life. Be able to follow your escape route at night and during inclement weather. You should be able to reach your safe location on foot within 15 minutes. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less thinking during an actual emergency.
If the school evacuation plan requires you to pick your children up from school or from another location. Be aware telephone lines during a tsunami watch or warning may be overloaded and routes to and from schools may be jammed.
Knowing your community’s warning systems and disaster plans, including evacuation routes.
Know the height of your street above sea level and the distance of your street from the coast or other high-risk waters. Evacuation orders may be based on these numbers.
If you are a tourist, familiarize yourself with local tsunami evacuation protocols. You may be able to safely evacuate to the third floor and higher in reinforced concrete hotel structures.
If an earthquake occurs and you are in a coastal area, turn on your radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning.

During a Tsunami

Follow the evacuation order issued by authorities and evacuate immediately. Take your animals with you.
Move inland to higher ground immediately. Pick areas 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level or go as far as 2 miles (3 kilometers) inland, away from the coastline. If you cannot get this high or far, go as high or far as you can. Every foot inland or upward may make a difference.
Stay away from the beach. Never go down to the beach to watch a tsunami come in. If you can see the wave you are too close to escape it. CAUTION – If there is noticeable recession in water away from the shoreline this is nature’s tsunami warning and it should be heeded. You should move away immediately.
Save yourself – not your possessions.
Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance – infants, elderly people, and individuals with access or functional needs.

After a Tsunami

Return home only after local officials tell you it is safe. A tsunami is a series of waves that may continue for hours. Do not assume that after one wave the danger is over. The next wave may be larger than the first one.
Go to a designated public shelter if you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might interfere with emergency response operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods.
Stay away from debris in the water; it may pose a safety hazard to people or pets.
Check yourself for injuries and get first aid as needed before helping injured or trapped persons.
If someone needs to be rescued, call professionals with the right equipment to help. Many people have been killed or injured trying to rescue others.
Help people who require special assistance—infants, elderly people, those without transportation, people with access and functional needs and large families who may need additional help in an emergency situation.
Continue using a NOAA Weather Radio or tuning to a Coast Guard station or a local radio or television station for the latest updates.
Stay out of any building that has water around it. Tsunami water can cause floors to crack or walls to collapse.
Use caution when re-entering buildings or homes. Tsunami-driven floodwater may have damaged buildings where you least expect it. Carefully watch every step you take.
To avoid injury, wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up.

For more information, check out www.ready.gov

@rusnivek

Tsunami warning? Are you on Hawaii? Big Island? Hilo? Kona? #HITsunami

Posted on March 30, 2014 by rusnivek

Tsunami warning? Are you on Hawaii? Big Island? Hilo? Kona?

Check if you are in an evacuation zone here (FREE):

Before a Tsunami

To begin preparing, you should build an emergency preparedness kit and make a family communications plan.
Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a tsunami occurs. Create and practice an evacuation plan for your family. Familiarity may save your life. Be able to follow your escape route at night and during inclement weather. You should be able to reach your safe location on foot within 15 minutes. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less thinking during an actual emergency.
If the school evacuation plan requires you to pick your children up from school or from another location. Be aware telephone lines during a tsunami watch or warning may be overloaded and routes to and from schools may be jammed.
Knowing your community’s warning systems and disaster plans, including evacuation routes.
Know the height of your street above sea level and the distance of your street from the coast or other high-risk waters. Evacuation orders may be based on these numbers.
If you are a tourist, familiarize yourself with local tsunami evacuation protocols. You may be able to safely evacuate to the third floor and higher in reinforced concrete hotel structures.
If an earthquake occurs and you are in a coastal area, turn on your radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning.

During a Tsunami

Follow the evacuation order issued by authorities and evacuate immediately. Take your animals with you.
Move inland to higher ground immediately. Pick areas 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level or go as far as 2 miles (3 kilometers) inland, away from the coastline. If you cannot get this high or far, go as high or far as you can. Every foot inland or upward may make a difference.
Stay away from the beach. Never go down to the beach to watch a tsunami come in. If you can see the wave you are too close to escape it. CAUTION – If there is noticeable recession in water away from the shoreline this is nature’s tsunami warning and it should be heeded. You should move away immediately.
Save yourself – not your possessions.
Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance – infants, elderly people, and individuals with access or functional needs.

After a Tsunami

Return home only after local officials tell you it is safe. A tsunami is a series of waves that may continue for hours. Do not assume that after one wave the danger is over. The next wave may be larger than the first one.
Go to a designated public shelter if you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might interfere with emergency response operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods.
Stay away from debris in the water; it may pose a safety hazard to people or pets.
Check yourself for injuries and get first aid as needed before helping injured or trapped persons.
If someone needs to be rescued, call professionals with the right equipment to help. Many people have been killed or injured trying to rescue others.
Help people who require special assistance—infants, elderly people, those without transportation, people with access and functional needs and large families who may need additional help in an emergency situation.
Continue using a NOAA Weather Radio or tuning to a Coast Guard station or a local radio or television station for the latest updates.
Stay out of any building that has water around it. Tsunami water can cause floors to crack or walls to collapse.
Use caution when re-entering buildings or homes. Tsunami-driven floodwater may have damaged buildings where you least expect it. Carefully watch every step you take.
To avoid injury, wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up.

For more information, check out www.ready.gov

@rusnivek

Tsunami warning? Are you on Maui? #HITsunami

Posted on March 30, 2014 by rusnivek

Tsunami warning? Are you on Maui?

Check if you are in an evacuation zone here (FREE):

Before a Tsunami

To begin preparing, you should build an emergency preparedness kit and make a family communications plan.
Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a tsunami occurs. Create and practice an evacuation plan for your family. Familiarity may save your life. Be able to follow your escape route at night and during inclement weather. You should be able to reach your safe location on foot within 15 minutes. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less thinking during an actual emergency.
If the school evacuation plan requires you to pick your children up from school or from another location. Be aware telephone lines during a tsunami watch or warning may be overloaded and routes to and from schools may be jammed.
Knowing your community’s warning systems and disaster plans, including evacuation routes.
Know the height of your street above sea level and the distance of your street from the coast or other high-risk waters. Evacuation orders may be based on these numbers.
If you are a tourist, familiarize yourself with local tsunami evacuation protocols. You may be able to safely evacuate to the third floor and higher in reinforced concrete hotel structures.
If an earthquake occurs and you are in a coastal area, turn on your radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning.

During a Tsunami

Follow the evacuation order issued by authorities and evacuate immediately. Take your animals with you.
Move inland to higher ground immediately. Pick areas 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level or go as far as 2 miles (3 kilometers) inland, away from the coastline. If you cannot get this high or far, go as high or far as you can. Every foot inland or upward may make a difference.
Stay away from the beach. Never go down to the beach to watch a tsunami come in. If you can see the wave you are too close to escape it. CAUTION – If there is noticeable recession in water away from the shoreline this is nature’s tsunami warning and it should be heeded. You should move away immediately.
Save yourself – not your possessions.
Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance – infants, elderly people, and individuals with access or functional needs.

After a Tsunami

Return home only after local officials tell you it is safe. A tsunami is a series of waves that may continue for hours. Do not assume that after one wave the danger is over. The next wave may be larger than the first one.
Go to a designated public shelter if you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might interfere with emergency response operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods.
Stay away from debris in the water; it may pose a safety hazard to people or pets.
Check yourself for injuries and get first aid as needed before helping injured or trapped persons.
If someone needs to be rescued, call professionals with the right equipment to help. Many people have been killed or injured trying to rescue others.
Help people who require special assistance—infants, elderly people, those without transportation, people with access and functional needs and large families who may need additional help in an emergency situation.
Continue using a NOAA Weather Radio or tuning to a Coast Guard station or a local radio or television station for the latest updates.
Stay out of any building that has water around it. Tsunami water can cause floors to crack or walls to collapse.
Use caution when re-entering buildings or homes. Tsunami-driven floodwater may have damaged buildings where you least expect it. Carefully watch every step you take.
To avoid injury, wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up.

For more information, check out www.ready.gov

@rusnivek

Tsunami warning? Are you on Oahu? Honolulu? #HITsunami

Posted on March 30, 2014 by rusnivek

Tsunami warning? Are you on Oahu? Honolulu?

Check if you are in an evacuation zone here (FREE):

Before a Tsunami

To begin preparing, you should build an emergency preparedness kit and make a family communications plan.
Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a tsunami occurs. Create and practice an evacuation plan for your family. Familiarity may save your life. Be able to follow your escape route at night and during inclement weather. You should be able to reach your safe location on foot within 15 minutes. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less thinking during an actual emergency.
If the school evacuation plan requires you to pick your children up from school or from another location. Be aware telephone lines during a tsunami watch or warning may be overloaded and routes to and from schools may be jammed.
Knowing your community’s warning systems and disaster plans, including evacuation routes.
Know the height of your street above sea level and the distance of your street from the coast or other high-risk waters. Evacuation orders may be based on these numbers.
If you are a tourist, familiarize yourself with local tsunami evacuation protocols. You may be able to safely evacuate to the third floor and higher in reinforced concrete hotel structures.
If an earthquake occurs and you are in a coastal area, turn on your radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning.

During a Tsunami

Follow the evacuation order issued by authorities and evacuate immediately. Take your animals with you.
Move inland to higher ground immediately. Pick areas 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level or go as far as 2 miles (3 kilometers) inland, away from the coastline. If you cannot get this high or far, go as high or far as you can. Every foot inland or upward may make a difference.
Stay away from the beach. Never go down to the beach to watch a tsunami come in. If you can see the wave you are too close to escape it. CAUTION – If there is noticeable recession in water away from the shoreline this is nature’s tsunami warning and it should be heeded. You should move away immediately.
Save yourself – not your possessions.
Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance – infants, elderly people, and individuals with access or functional needs.

After a Tsunami

Return home only after local officials tell you it is safe. A tsunami is a series of waves that may continue for hours. Do not assume that after one wave the danger is over. The next wave may be larger than the first one.
Go to a designated public shelter if you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might interfere with emergency response operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods.
Stay away from debris in the water; it may pose a safety hazard to people or pets.
Check yourself for injuries and get first aid as needed before helping injured or trapped persons.
If someone needs to be rescued, call professionals with the right equipment to help. Many people have been killed or injured trying to rescue others.
Help people who require special assistance—infants, elderly people, those without transportation, people with access and functional needs and large families who may need additional help in an emergency situation.
Continue using a NOAA Weather Radio or tuning to a Coast Guard station or a local radio or television station for the latest updates.
Stay out of any building that has water around it. Tsunami water can cause floors to crack or walls to collapse.
Use caution when re-entering buildings or homes. Tsunami-driven floodwater may have damaged buildings where you least expect it. Carefully watch every step you take.
To avoid injury, wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up.

For more information, check out www.ready.gov

@rusnivek

@rusnivek’s Top-6 Public Safety / PIO social media tip-2 …for free

Posted on November 6, 2013 by rusnivek

@rusnivek’s Top-6 Public Safety / PIO Social Media tips…for free

Again, I need to provide you more public safety social media tips. And since you have very little time in the day to spare, maybe you can read this while going down the elevator. Again, I’ll keep it short.

Here’s part-2 of my top 6 SM tips for public safety professionals / Public Information Officers (PIOs). And yes, it’s still free for you.

@rusnivek Social Media Tip-2: Every post, every avenue, every audience…anytime.

With so many different avenues of social media, one person cannot conceivably keep up with every emerging new program.

Pick a few platforms that work for you and that your audience mainly uses and post. Make it pertinent to your mission, make those posts reflect your organization’s objectives and goals, but most importantly, feed it.

Don’t be such a stickler about posting every day at the same bat time, at same bat place, on the same bat things. Change it up make your audience crave your info and make them check your feed incessantly for information they need.

During an emergency, don’t just decide “Oh now is the time we should start to…”

STOP <SMH> cause you are already dead in the water. #FAIL

So feed it anytime. It only takes a few minutes to feed it. Do it now.

Tip-2: Every post, every avenue, every audience…anytime.

@rusnivek