Where is @rusnivek?

Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

May we head into June 2017?

Posted on June 1, 2017 by rusnivek

May is out like trout and June has come in with a slew of activities as well as the 2017 NBA Finals!

First week I’ll be in Missouri teaching my favorite class – Social Media Tools & Techniques and a functional social media exercise in Columbus. Yes I know, that means I won’t be attending the 2017 UASI Conference in Buffalo. #Boooo. However, my free time will be spent at Game-3 and Game-4 of the 2017 NBA Championships. #GoCavs!!!!!

Second week I will be teaching the FEMA EMI Incident Management Team Plans Section Chief Course in Cincinnati. With so many members from USAR Ohio Task Force-1 (including Schulmann) attending, it’s going to be a fun class. Are you attending?

Third week I think I got blessed with the approval to take the IMT Incident Commanders course at the home EOC in Columbus. Lemme see if I can login this time (Password “JOSHUA”).

Fourth week will be doing some tactical training including quals. #pewpew

Honestly, I just hope to stay afloat this month.

Additionally, June 2017 will serve as the foundation month for the 2018 training schedule. Who’s ready for more classes?!?!?!?

Get your learn on!

@rusnivek

Brand new Social Media Engagement Strategies course debut at SAC EOC #NDPTC

Posted on April 24, 2017 by rusnivek

Solid start to the week being able to deliver the brand new FEMA NDPTC Social Media Engagement Strategies course.

Numerous pros from across the state of California attending today.

Special thanks to the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services in hosting this fun class in their Emergency Operations Center.

Super special shoutout goes to MayJo!

Talked specifically about addressing audiences and their appropriate platforms. Mediums like static posts are great however we need to explore outside of your comfort zone and try new avenues to communicate. FacebookLive, Periscope, InstagramLive, YouTubeLive, etc…..these new emerging live broadcast tools can allow agencies to be creative in their broadcast of messages.

Solid afternoon facilitation on the formulation of a strategic communications specifically focusing in on social media and audience engagement.

And of course the standard shout out to our friend Cheryl.

Overall, the intent of this class is really to be a catalyst to start a meaningful conversation about engaging your constituents on various social media platforms.

Obviously, you would be taking FEMA NDPTC PER-344 Social Media Tools & Techniques first – which gives you a heavy dose of the currrent tools/platforms that are out there as well as a bunch of tactics and techniques that you could use in your EOC or JIC.

Both courses provide a different take on social media actions esp during disasters / crisis.

Keep on learning peeps. Much more to digest and figure out.

We all must do better to support our local communities, county coordinators, and state officials to work and communicate together before, during, and after the disaster.

We the people right? #Merica

@rusnivek

Brand new FEMA #NDPTC Social Media Engagement Strategies at State of Colorado EOC

Posted on February 22, 2017 by rusnivek

I am honored to bring a brand new social media course out: FEMA/NDPTC Social Media Engagement Strategies

This particular social media course has been under development for the past few years. With it’s first delivery in the Pacific NW in 2015. But the best part is today’s course is in Colorado!

At the heart of FEMA Region 8 – these peeps know their stuff.

State of Colorado PIO Micki Trost welcoming all the participants in the class.

Many of the PIOs in class today are from almost all ESFs including a strong contingent from ESF-01: Transportation!

Great partnerships with local, state, Federal partners, and DoD representatives in class today.

I also got a chance to share my field deployable PIO Kit (aka my man bag / man purse / European carry all)

Great discussion on social media and how to increase engagement on various platforms including Slackk, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, Musicaly, SoundFile, and of course a few tips on how to have a corrrdinated approach to dissemination of information to external partners as well as internal employees. Remember, all internal employees (if they consent) could be brand ambassadors of their agency.

Active in class discussion as well as spirited activity in class w/ EOC and VOST teams can mutually benefit if both understand the needs and requests.

And also a VERY special shout out to the courses creator: Cheryl “HAZMAT MiniVan” Bledsoe. #famous

Obv, MaryJo and I are stoked to be the first instructors to bring this to Colorado!

Stay safe peeps, it’s only Wednesday.

Engage on social media like a MoFo and always do good stuff.

Reporting live from the State of Colorado Department of Homeland Security Emergency Operations Center…

@rusnivek

Another G0291 JIS JIC course for PIOs in Athens County #Ohio #AlohaFriday

Posted on February 17, 2017 by rusnivek

Leading off another Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) G-0291: Joint Information System / Joint Information Center Planning for Tribal, State, and Local PIOs.

We have a few new additions to our class – who hail from across Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia.

Glad to have so many pros with us in class…esp for #AlohaFriday – yeah baby!

PC: J. Beckett

Always an Aloha shirt on Fridays.

Lots of group work and discussion as everyone contributes information to better their communities.

It is helpful because our participants have diverse backgrounds.

Almost all Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) were represented.

This allowed us to have an in-depth discussion and think outside the box to solve various in class table top exercises.

Instructors we able to facilitate discussion among groups providing the opportunity to enhance their response with immediate communication strategies and tactics for emergency notification.

Also lots of discussion of the benefits and pitfalls of the JIC vs the JIS.

Additionally, the class wanted to see a few pictures from our Joint Information Center (JIC) during the 2016 RNC (2016 Republican National Convention).

We obliged and showed a few pictures.

Glad to have the chance to present before the PIOs from Athens County and beyond.

Special thanks to Dan in coordinating this training with Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Proud to have so many different agencies represented.

Looking forward to working with each of these PIOs in a JIC!

@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

JICing it out today in class

Posted on February 2, 2017 by rusnivek

Solid Thursday talking about Joint Information Centers (JICs) and Joint Information Systems (JISs).

Additionally, seeing how our Federal partners build into local and state response is key to showcase how everyone works together.

It is imperative that we continue to push the efforts of our all-hazards partners in public safety to ensure our community ability to return to normal after any disaster.

Later this afternoon, we’ll dive into some social media tech stuff including a bit on intelligence. Hope to share the power of social media with my new peeps.

PC Credit: Nina

Also, I hope they now use their social media powers for good!

@rusnivek

Need a backup EOC? I bet you can identify this one

Posted on January 12, 2017 by rusnivek

For my Emergency Management Pros – have you done your continuity planning yet?

What? You don’t have a backup Emergency Operations Center?!?

Let me help you for free: Sports-type restaurants can easily double as an Emergency Operations Center.

restaurant-eoc

Oh schnikies – he’s right!

Remember on September 11th, FDNY had to move their EOC multiple times because of increased hazards, inaccessibility, and debris?

More planning? Any of the FEMA credentialed Master Continuity Practitioners can help you out…like me.

fema_logo3

Likely this could be a good alternate to any Emergency Operations Center right? Large parking lot, ability to provide food, bathrooms, etc….all the stuff we need.

So yes, if you are short on funding, consider identifying a few neighborhood sports restaurants as backup emergency operations centers in your AOR and mutual aid districts/regions.

@rusnivek

Teaching in the NM DOC – Social Media Tools and Techniques

Posted on January 11, 2017 by rusnivek

Hello Wednesday! Getting a chance to teach my favorite advanced class – PER-344: Social Media Tools and Techniques at the State of New Mexico Department of Public Health.

Whohoo!

The engaging in-class activity in the afternoon is a great way to get you to think outside of the box…

…and force you to #totes enhance your social media game.

So happy to see numerous peeps attending today’s class.

This course is also very valuable to support upcoming Full Scale Exercise Vigilant Guard with the National Guard too.

@rusnivek

2016 World Series Game-2 field work for PIOs #GoTribe #RallyTogether

Posted on October 27, 2016 by rusnivek

Doing some Public Information Officer (PIO) stuff during the 2016 World Series was fun.

Like in any deployment, don’t forget to sign in, or else Jobu will chase you down!

Jobu says sign in on the ICS-211 form #GoTribe #MajorLeague

Stadium was packed!

2016 World Series game-2: Chicago Cubs vs Cleveland Indians

Don’t think it’s all glamour, PIOs spend gobs of time crafting specific messages tailored to each situation.

PIOs in the midst of discussing the use of gifs.

In the end, ESF-15 and all PIOs/PAOs are there to support all of our partners in public safety.

ESF-15 in the hizzouse!

Looking forward to game-3 in Chicago.

Slider and Rusnivek

#GoTribe #RallyTogether

@rusnivek

Back in R4 at Cobb County EOC for Winter Weather Hazards

Posted on October 24, 2016 by rusnivek

Back in Georgia again teaching Winter Weather preparedness today.

cvith9dxyaa99ka

I am fortunate to teach at Cobb County’s Emergency Operations Center. I esp like the sound dampening walls and modular setup. Bonus points on the police museum too.

Numerous all-hazard agencies represented as participants shared past experiences from previous historic regional ice storms and complex response challenges.

Dynamic class with challenging table top exercise (TTE) with very creative injects.

I am grateful for the opportunity to teach again in Region-4.

@rusnivek