Final Day of ICS-300 as we roll along with resource management, prioritization, demobilization….
….and of course the new recovery support functions. All aimed to help communities recover from any disaster.
We are all working hard to enhance the preparedness level of many of our critical staff – building a culture of preparedness.
Reporting in from FEMA Region V…
More fun as we continue through day-2 of ICS-300 at FEMA Region V.
Today’s convo will be dominated by the Planning P and how integral the cycle is to our operational rhythm in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or the Joint Field Office (JFO).
Also a great time to talk about resources and the need for more as we progress along in the disaster. As you know, ordering stuff (single point vs multi point) isn’t easy, accounting for the resource, tasking the resource, and justifying the resource is harder than it looks due to the restrictions that inbound resources have. As always, great discussion today from all participants!
Throwing the shaka cause I know tomorrow is AlohaFriday!
Reporting live from FEMA Region V!
Good morning FEMA Region V!
Time to get my ICS-300 on because I am teaching ICS-300 with one of my Plans Section Chiefs Mark Ballard!
This one is an all Federal class here as we serve our DHS partners and various other organizations in learning about the Incident Command.
You know what day it is. On Wednesdays, we wear pink.
Reporting live from the FEMA RV RRCC…
Earlier this week on Thursday, I was informed of the passing of Phil Politano.
😢
Just like the PIO world, the news came with an embargo as I was told to hold on the distro of Phil’s passing until more details were released.
I was not ready to hear this.
Then FEMA EMI pushed the info out.
😞 😔 😢 I’ve known Phil for years. 😢
I cherish all my conversations with Phil, bending his ear on ideas, strategies, and how we can better serve our communities as leaders and still be innovative by stretching and setting the bar higher for others to achieve more.
Phil pushed me to do more.
I openly share info and talk about my duties as a PIO.
Again, Phil pushed me to do more.
I told my story about PIOs and how critical they are to the success of our mission in Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
Phil said you can empower more.
I increased my exposure and worked/traveled/trained more public safety PIOs across the country.
Phil smiled and said in his loud booming voice, “Well done man!”
Over the years, I have literally trained thousands of pros. There is no doubt in my mind, each one of them knows the importance of getting the right message, to the right, people, at the right time.
Phil’s oversight to my official FEMA PIO duties and actions helped make me a better PIO. He was always watching me.
Phil was always watching what I was doing.
Speaking of watching, I knew Phil was always watching me, this turned into a little game called the SURprise. Here’s one time I SURprised Phil at a secure USCG Base in California.
That was a good one.
Another time, I caught him delivering an exercise inject, eating a salad in the sim cell during a functional exercise.
A salad and Sur…who could ask for anything more!?!?!
<Sigh>
In 2018, Phil handed me my FEMA Master PIO certificate.
<sigh>
I was hoping to catch up to him at the end of the month at EMI. However, it seems that God needed a PIO and Phil got the ultimate deployment resource request.
Gonna miss his booming voice….
Gonna miss that side eye…
Gonna miss that PIO guidance…
I’ll just settle for that award winning PIO smile.
Trust me Phil, I’ll definitely take more notes.
Reporting with tears in my eyes…
Final day of the FEMA Emergency Management Basic Academy here DuPage County OHSEM. Lots of discussion about EOPs and #THIRA planning.
Enhancing the skills of our most trusted partners from Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois.
More group work as we address planning for our Whole Community response and recovery in this planning class.
Solid collaboration from all public safety representatives from local to Federal level.
Final group activity as we continue to enhance our Emergency Operations Plans.
Lots of discussion on sharing timely and critical information with access & functional needs populations.
Closing out this week’s packed FEMA Basic Academy on Aloha Friday.
Many thanks to local, county, state, and Federal officials/leaders attending representing FEMA Region 5 and FEMA Region 7.
When throwing away your Christmas tree, make sure you don’t block the emergency fire escape.
C’mon now, let’s all do our part to be apart of the Christmas miracle we call COMMON SENSE.
Please people, no more dumb things in 2020.
A fine start to this crisp morning as the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management starting the FEMA NDPTC Winter Weather Hazards course!
Welcome intros by Director Murray Snow to our participants from across the state!
Glad to see so many of our most trusted partners here today with almost all Emergency Support Functions represented.
Great to have NDPTC Instructor Rob Dale here again from Michigan where we know the weather there is more worserer than here.
His insight from a small EM agency and weather perspective allows us to see how to increase our ability to address and target specific audiences.
Outstanding to have John Scala. I love his teaching style and ability to share critical points in class is critical because science is…well…hard.
John’s ability to answer questions and explain complex weather issues is so important esp to those of us who are not trained as a MET. Additionally, several of our participants recognize him from his time as a broadcast meteorologist days.
With this class stacked w/ legit meteorologists, I am proud that these classes are a big hit with our peeps!
Just in time because the weather outside is frightful…
Stay warm peeps!
The final day of new 2019 ICS-400! But first, let’s see…what the-
WHY IS THERE SNOW?!?!?
Dang it.
Thanks again to Will County (IL) EMA Director Harold Damron for instructing this ICS class with me this week.
Lots of great discussion on coordination and resource ordering. Deep convos on complex problems esp on after action reviews (AARs) and implementation plans. And the complexities of collaboration is incredibly important esp at the Type-1 and Type-2 responses. As you know, that is the crux of Emergency Management.
Special shout out to Chief Gorsky and all the members of the Darien–Woodridge Fire Department on the fine hospitality.
EM-1 clear, enroute back to quarters.
Gotta prep for our next class!
Starting off our day-2 of ICS-300 here at DWFD with Jake and Elwood!
You know those two jokers executed their plans…to get the band back together.
This morning, we are joined by another representative from Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Region 4 Trainer Wendell Brewer!
Hope to lean on his recent expertise as a MEPP throughout the day.
Additionally, I got several inquiries on training that pertains to timely and proximity to the holidays (specifically any classes in December).
Look, it’s only December 6th. You need to calm down. You’re being too loud.
In short, disasters don’t take holidays or extended vacations. And neither do we. I am proud to see so many public safety partners attending our class from across the country.
Today, we hit the Planning P in full force as we brief our partners with the deets on the tactics meeting. We also dive deep on how important the ICS forms are (esp the 215 and 215A) for all tacticians and deployed personnel. I believe these two forms are critical to every single Incident Action Plans (IAP).
And for those that took ICS courses and thought they were boring and a waste of time or had poor instruction….that’s your fault.
Here’s proof that ICS participants, if provided solid instruction, can enjoy training and smile throughout class. I would say that the smiles probably help nurture transparent and dynamic conversation in class to solve legit problems that face any government agency. Sooooooo critical for any agency leader.
So go ahead and continue to complain about your experiences. Perhaps you just haven’t found an agency that provides solid instructors with real-world experiences that nurtures coordination and collaboration.
And as a true marker that I believe what we teach is impactful in all of our communities, I submit my sock choice for today. If we as leaders of our organization do not plan accordingly, we will likely become extinct.
Rawr.
Reporting live from the front of the class…
Midweek start to our FEMA IEMA DuPage Co OHSEM ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents at Darien Woodridge Fire Department Station 89!
And since it’s the holidays, I thought a little Mariah would be appropriate
🤣
Special thanks to Fire Chief Gorsky on the warm hospitality to all of our participants from across the country.
This week, I am fortunate to have Illinois EMA Region 7 Trainer Richard Williams along for the instructor ride.
Great to hear about his military experiences and how they used ICS. Additionally, lots of info to share on his assignment to the southern Illinois flooding this year.
And since I’m teaching with IEMA staff, I thought it would be appropriate to wear my Illinois socks.
Reporting live from Station 89…
Where is @rusnivek? 