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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

Final day of the AH #IMT #Logistics Section Chief course w/ OH-TF-01

Posted on February 10, 2017 by rusnivek

Day-5: Final day of the DHS/FEMA Ohio EMA All-Hazards Incident Management Team Logistics Section Chief course.

Again, special thanks to FEMA USAR Ohio Task Force-1 for hosting this week.

Solid morning as we talked about how the LSC frequently meets with the PSC well before much of the action happens.

In fact, it is likely that the LSC is at least 5 steps ahead of the OSC – to plan to supply and equip our tactical operations with the stuff they need.

Ohio EMA LSC Phil Johnson brief the class on how county agencies interact with our activated State EOC focusing in on resource ordering and task assignments.

Like good Logistics Section Chiefs, we debated the merits of pre-staging resources before they are needed for faster deployments and anticipating needs (leaning in).

Lots of discussion on EMAC and the success that the State of Ohio had with 2016 events including the 2016 Republican National Convention which was classified as a NSSE.

We discussed demobilization plans as well as factors that could contribute to delayed demob. As always, we emphasize on the safe return of all crews from disaster deployment.

At the end of the day, we were able to tour the DHS/FEMA USAR OH-TF-1 facility.

Amazing stuff!

Logistics plays a HUGE part of daily operations as they have thousands and thousands of pieces of deployable items needed for disaster operations.

So as you can see, LSCs have an insurmountable task of keeping order during non-disaster times.

For those in the military and are truly Logistics pees, I believe this is an amazing piece of equipment.

If you are a pro, and like to sling load your stuff, you should consider getting a few.

Special thanks to all the pros from DHS/FEMA Ohio USAR Task Force-1.

Yes it's Friday. That is an Aloha Shirt.

Yes it’s Friday. Look closely. That is an Aloha Shirt.

Superb ending of class with participants from numerous states on this #AlohaFriday!

Proud to serve my country and train other IMT LSCs from across this great nation.

@rusnivek

Social Media course in Glynn County (GA) today

Posted on November 9, 2016 by rusnivek

Great social media course today in St. Simons Island, Georgia!

Special thanks to Glynn County EMA for hosting a great engaging course.

Lots of new peeps here for the class as well as a cameo appearance by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

#totes magotes!

@rusnivek

Day-3 Ohio EMA ICS 300 course with 911 PSAP & Belmont County EMA EOC

Posted on October 6, 2016 by rusnivek

Third and final day of the Ohio EMA ICS-300 course at Belmont College.

PhotoCredit: @BelmontCollege

Mid morning, we had lots of great discussion for formal demobilization plans as well priority release procedures.

Our class had some serious discussion on cost vs expectations on resources. If you’ve ever been deployed to a disaster, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Rounding out to the last module, almost test time!

After the class was over, I was able to score a visit to Belmont County 911 dispatch center for our class. So I invited the whole class to attend too!

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Special thanks to Mr. Hudak for the tour and detailed explanation on normal operations in their Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) / 911 call center.

Our class then moved over to the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency where our class was given a formal tour of their Emergency Operation Center (EOC).

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They just happen to be monitoring Hurricane Matthew – so that made it even better for all participants to see how this EOC can monitor any situation in real time. Thank you Belmont County EMA!

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Positions ready…Executive Policy Room ready…ARES Comms center ready…fully operational…who could ask for anything more?!!?!? Even the bonus resources they have were great to see how they could support operations and paint a better picture to increase situational awareness / common operating picture (SA/COP).

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Gah, I see this EOC being a great resource for many all hazards partners in public safety.

Great to showcase the efforts of local emergency management professionals and how they pair with Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA).

Special thanks to Glenn Trudo and Belmont College for being such gracious hosts for the OEMA ICS-300 class.

@rusnivek

Busy September 2016 = National Preparedness Month #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon

Posted on September 1, 2016 by rusnivek

August was solid, but September is going to be huge because it’s NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH!!!!!

First and second week, it’ll all be planning for a gigantic upcoming all-hazards PIO/PAO Conference.

Third week will be spent teaching ICS-300 for Ohio EMA to my friends in the SW part of Ohio. And then on Friday, attending the Ohio PIO Symposium.

Fourth week, I’ll be teaching at Washington DC’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management EOC. Upon return, then presenting at the Wayne County (Ohio) Fire Chief’s Conference on PIO/Social Media.

Fifth week, I’ll be presenting on PIO and cyber at the infrastructure at the statewide infrastructure protection conference in Region-7. Who knows, if I can do it, maybe some tactical training in Alliance too. #pewpew

And ALL month long, I’ll be participating in National Preparedness month activities that you can share with your constituents. If we can better prepare our peeps, we can increase our national level of community resilience.

Thanks to the www.ready.gov program, it is easier than ever to get involved and prepared.

Hope to see you engaging during this important month.

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

@rusnivek

My Dad started his Neighborhood Watch Program!

Posted on June 27, 2016 by rusnivek

I’m proud of my Dad who setup his Neighborhood Watch Program.

Dad has been planning this for months now and even posted signs to get everyone involved. Because inviting and talking with the entire neighborhood about safety related topics are the key points of the Neighborhood Watch program. Also, my Dad went big – he blocked off the entire cul-de-sac for his event!

Honolulu Fire Station-30 (Engine-30 & Ladder-30) stopped by to share some safety tips and what to do during an emergency.

Ladder-30 showcased their equipment for everyone to see.

Talked about ventilation saws for trench cuts and vertical cuts for fires.

Also talked about extrication tools and generators for car accidents and confined space rescue.

All the kids in the neighborhood got a chance to try out the headsets used for communications in the apparatus.

Honolulu Police stopped by too.

Even a surprise flyby thanks to Honolulu Fire Air-1 Helicopter.

In the end, this kind of neighborhood program is truly the basis of a safer community.

Education, particularly teaching kids during an emergency, how to call 9-1-1 is crucial to a safe community.

My Dad volunteered to do this. Yep, not paid. Just doing his part to keep his neighborhood and community safe. LOVE IT!

There are many other volunteer programs showcased by DHS/FEMA’s awesome Ready.Gov campaign on safety. Just like my Dad, I volunteer too with my community’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) aka RH-CERT.

Whether you are a part of your own Neighborhood Watch Program, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Volunteers in Police Service (ViPS), Medical Reserve Corp (MRC), Fire Corps, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs), etc…all of these civic based programs are so important to the fabric for the safety of our community across this great country.

So proud of my Dad!

@rusnivek

Another great Ohio EMA Basic #PIO course at Independence Fire

Posted on June 2, 2016 by rusnivek

Great Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) class with so many brand new Public Information Officers (PIOs).

Special thanks to Fire Chief Steve Rega and Assistant Fire Chief Wheeler and all of Independence Fire for hosting this great all-hazard course.

Oh you know me. Just doing my share reppin Ohio EMA…

…in helping everyone understand EOC Operations and the importance of a Joint Information Center (JIC) that regularly engages on social media.

Additionally, I love pushing the classic Emergency Management mantra of getting everyone to work together BEFORE an incident is a hallmark of sucess.

Bonus, I got to hang with one of my favorite PIOs – Erica Creech (aka Mama PIO)!

I can’t wait to work with so many of you in the near future.

@rusnivek

April 2016 was solid, but it’s gonna be May

Posted on May 1, 2016 by rusnivek

April 2016 was solid, but it’s gonna be May…..

Instructors Kevin Sur and Justin Timberlake. Heh.

First week, I will be instructing FEMA’s National Emergency Management Executive Academy Program at EMI specifically on Crisis Communications, Public Information Officer, and Social Media. Then heading back to Ohio to teach a basic Public Information Officer’s Course and Joint Information Center/System course (G-290/291) in Summit County. R3 and R5 = Twofer in just the first week!

Second week, I will head back north to Michigan to teach social media at Michigan State University. Then the last half of the week spent in Chicago for meetings with various public safety officials including Chicago Fire.

Third week, we have a State of Ohio Emergency Management Instructors’ Workshop at Ohio EMA in Columbus. Good chance to chat and share successes with our staff – who are all good stewards of Emergency Management. Cbus baby!

Fourth week, I will be instructing in the big DHS/FEMA 2016 National Training and Exercise Symposium at EMI. Whohoo!!! Hoping to catch up to Brian Kamoie and Doc Lumpkins again. Then jetting off to Nebraska to teach Social Media and Crisis Communications in the statewide CPESymposia. R3 and R7 in the hizzouse!

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