If you ever wondered how the city paints the crosswalks in the third largest city in the US, here you go.
In the busy parts of the city, you can’t shut down roads for days, but you can paint really really fast!
Shout out to all the public works pros out there who are trying their hardest to keep up with the 24/7 demands.
Reporting live from the heart of Chicago…
My outstanding Emergency Management staff presenting on HAZMAT and nuclear hazards.
Just another day-in-the-life of our Emergency Management…
Reporting live from our security training room…
Whoa.
I want one.
I mean, we have some big buildings right?
Ben, you said our onsite hydrant pressure was really good right?!? I promise you can nickname it the “Little Ben”
Well, maybe we can put Chicago Fire’s new 6-7-3 aka Deluge Wagon on our box card. 6-7-3 resides in CFD’s Special Operations division.
Reporting live with Wagon envy…
I am honored to lead this Joint Information Center (JIC) with the US Secret Service.
I am incredibly thankful for everyone who participated with us from local, county, state, and Federal partners. Welcome to Illinois and the City of Chicago!
Lots of dangers with these types of National Special Security Events (NSSEs), but through a well coordinated system with highly trained individuals,
Trust me, it took many months of introductions, planning, networking, scheduling, coordinating, and of course collaborating with our most trusted partners from across the country.
I’ve said it before, but it takes a certain skillset to be the agency’s PIO. No day is ever alike.
And no incident or event will ever be the same. Nothing is ever the same.
Proud of the work that was done this week to keep everyone safe.
Reporting live from the 2024 DNC’s Joint Information Center…
Rolling in on a Saturday to the EOC….
Wait a sec…WAIT A SEC….
Did one of our partners get their drive through testing station up and running already?
PIO to SITL: How do copy?
Man, the news is going to be all over this one…
Things got real serious for a Monday.
Where. Did. Everyone. Go.
Is it me?
Additionally, as things start to get serious, let’s recap today’s PIO fun.
And then radios were distroed.
Test test. Clarance, do you have clearance?
Heh. My COML is going to kill me. Where’s my radio strap?!?
Reporting live…
A glimmering light of happiness as I got a chance to spend a few moments with my favorite Joint Information Center (JIC) Managers Beth DeJesus and Erica Creech.
(L to R): Beth DeJesus, Kevin Sur, and Erica Creech. Photo cred: EllaMonster
Beth and Erica were my JIC Managers throughout the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Additionally, Beth was the Cleveland JIC Manager during the December 2016 Christmas plane crash out of Burke. Erica was my JIC Manager during the 2014 Ebola case in Cleveland, 2012 Hurricane Sandy Response, and the 2013 three girls missing in Cleveland case.
During our quick meet up, we talked about work/careers and ongoing efforts. And yeah, they tried to get me to move back to Cleveland.
But most importantly, we talked about family, kids, and the things that really mattered. Hard to believe but this PIO thing isn’t easy and in leadership roles, it’s hard to find people/friends who truly understand the complexities of the position and can sympathize in the daily challenging situations. We all have armor, we just need to decide how long we wear our protective gear.
Just like back in the day, we were able to slot back into our normal self and the redic things that come with Emergency Support Function ESF-15. I miss that kind of camaraderie and the cohesive bonds we shared with so many of our public safety partners from across the state.
Yeah, I miss my favorite JIC Managers…
Another fine start to the FEMA PIO Awareness course here at Mundelein Fire Station 1!
Special thanks to DC Brents and the whole crew!
Lots to talk about as we intro the magic of public information to a new class. Of course we had a few words of wisdom from PIO John Nebl.
Great perspective and stories from Schaumburg Police.
If you were wondering, we are in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)…so that’s a good thing.
Making your peeps train in the location that they would likely be activated to…is a solid practice.
With a diverse class, we are able to cover lots of topics and various situations. The all-hazards nature of this FEMA class allows us to better prepare our PIOs for any emergency.
Additionally, I love to share my experiences from large events and disasters with fellow colleagues from across the State of Illinois.
Training together better prepares us to coordinate and work together before, during, and after an emergency. That’s right, come on in and form Voltron.
Special thanks to all the staff from Mundelein Fire for the warm hospitality to our staff from the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Train like you fight!
Day-2 of the FEMA OEMA Basic Public Information Officer course here at Defiance County EMA.
As we start to expand the roles of the PIO, we gotta talk about social media and the impact it has on our every day tasks representing our brand…aka our agency.
Like all info on social media, there’s a ton of things to cover and we won’t be able to talk about ALL platforms. But we can talk about the primary ones that make a difference for any public safety agency.
Also a good time to share one thoughts with you too:
“I don’t care how many followers you have, I care about how you engage all of the followers you do have.” – @rusnivek
Much like Shania Twain, the volume of followers don’t impress me much. What makes a really good social media-er, is how that agency engages with their followers they do have.
I often get asked about in class mock interviews. We still do them as they are incredibly important for participants in a safe learning environment.
But ask any of my participants. They will tell you that it’s pretty real.
Additionally, how I facilitate that part of class nurtures and allows for self-reflection amongst all participants. This ain’t my first rodeo. My peeps are good as we prep them for a really bad day.
Mock press conferences allow our participants to put together a few skills they learned just yesterday.
Just like real press conferences, mock reporters are able to ask questions and test some techniques on running a successful press conference.
The best part?
Participants worked it like pros and did an excellent job in running the pressers! NOOICE!!!!!
Great teamwork and collaboration with everyone here. Strong support network, solid coordination, and nice weather – always a winner!
Proud of the work from everyone in class today.
I’m totes looking forward to tomorrow’s course – FEMA JIC/JIS Course
It’s just another Manic Monday as we start another FEMA OEMA Basic PIO Course here at Defiance County Emergency Management Agency (Ohio). Cue the Guns n Roses intro music!
Not going to lie, all signs point to a large contingent from our law enforcement community here today.
Lots of new PIOs in the audience today as we try to share the good word from so many agencies. Almost every ESF is represented!
All-hazards coolio on Monday!
As an added instructor bonus, we get a chance to see what campaigns that Ohio EMA has worked for previous outreach activities in Ohio. Hi Nancy!!!!!
My lunch time views include a few red fire trucks.
Ahhhhh, I feel better now.
And in classic fashion, we are most definitely doing on-camera interviews.
While seemingly insignificant, this is the part of the class that participants find is the most valuable for their ongoing career.
Me? I’d rather you have that experience and training and never use it vs never having that training and then being thrown to the wolves in a crisis or emergency.
Train like you fight right?
Reporting live from the EOC as I ask those challenging media-esque questions…
Where is @rusnivek? 