Hitting it hard to provide for the residents of the Florida Keys – our team readies the third Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Islamorada.
Proud to see this one up to serve the northern keys. The artwork definitely reflects the dangers of the job and previous disasters.
DRC is located in the second floor of the Fire Station so I feel right at home.
Also glad to see the new recruit class working hard too.
Reporting live from my third Disaster Recovery Center grand opening…
Great day working with Univision from Miami.
Sharing the message from our FEMA on registering on disasterassistance.gov is a great way to start the process on various programs. But sharing it statewide is great too!
Reaching audiences in various languages allows our information to proliferate into various communities throughout different communities affected by the Cat-4 hurricane.
Additionally sharing the recovery message with our partners like Small Business Administration (SBA) – showcases the skills of government agencies working together.
Glad we prepped and hit questions that could be used across various communities. #syndication
I was instructed by senior leadership to move lodging again. Now sleeping at Florida Keys International Airport Basecamp.
Luxurious? Nope, just on the airport taxiway at Echo. Right next to an active runway and aircraft are using the airfield all the time at Florida Keys International Airport.
Like any other location, you MUST check in.
You mean I get to pick my own king sized bed? AWESOME!!!
Home sweet home.
Need to shower? Just go into the trailer.
Need to use the bathroom? Just across the way. Always wear your boots because it’s flooded.
Splash splash. Fun times.
I said it before and I’ll say it again: If you dislike using porta-pottys all the time, you are not cut out for disaster response/recovery.
Reporting live from the airport taxiway…
For the first time in my career, I got a chance to work with Univision for a FEMA interview on the disaster recovery process.
Great to have Patty down with our crews at the Big Pine Key Disaster Recovery Center.
Like any good PIO, before the news crews arrived, we briefly went over questions and talked about the important points of disaster response/recovery as well as possible questions that could be brought up.
The Univision crews also interviewed people who were there too.
And since we have several people who speak Spanish, I figured that it would be great to have them get some camera time too.
Well done Carmen!
And of course, since this was the first time I worked with Univision, I had to get a selfie.
Glad to be a small part in helping getting the word out to the Spanish speaking community.
Another Florida Governor visit with our senior administration and Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO).
Tight quarters so I had to set the cameras far back.
Little known fact, positioning and seats AT the table is important. A PIOs job is to get the right optic for media.
I even found a reporter shooting stills in between the arms of attendees.
Cramped space makes it tight and a little schwetty!
After the actual meeting was over, we had several post meeting interviews including 10News and Telemundo. Great to see so many news outlets covering the Governor’s message…
…and our message from FEMA.
Solid day on Hurricane Irma disaster response and recovery for Florida.
#PIO is OK!
Sunday is a packed day of media interviews!!
Hosting news crews from all over Florida here in Branch V isn’t easy esp when you are the only PIO assigned to the Division A. But yo – you gotta make magic happen.
Great to have news agencies that want to report the right story.
Glad to have my friends from ABC News10 in town.
Glad to see WSVN 7 News here in the Keys to do a story on FEMA response efforts before, during, and after Hurricane Irma landfall.
Found them a great spot at the Flea Market at the big relief center for various communities who need supplies.
Just because it’s dark, don’t think operations stop.
Just remember, disaster response and recovery is a 24-hour business. With 12-hour operational periods, there isn’t much time to fool around.
Sadly, PIOs are tasked with countless tasks all day/night long.
Get some rest peeps. I know I’m tired.
Here are just a few of the packages from both sides of the production house from my visit with the US Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke, Florida Governor Rick Scott, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) Willie Nunn, and other key leadership and dignitaries supporting the rescue/recovery operations.
Here’s the video from FEMA.
Here’s the video from ABC affiliate WPLG 10News out of Miami.
Here’s the FacebookLife from Monroe County’s PIO.
Working the magic to help promote Response and Recovery efforts here in the Keys – #KeysRecovery!
This morning was busy with meetings with. Florida Governor Rick Scott and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke.
Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Florida Governor Rick Scott in an interview with ABC affiliate 10News from Miami on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.
Branch V Division Alpha!
Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security in the Monroe County (FL) Emergency Operations Center.
All part of the hurricane Irma response and recovery specifically address to the Florida Keys.
Key national leadership briefing on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.
Lots of partners and Public Safety attending as well as our partners from the US Coast Guard, US Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, and so many more.
Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Monroe County (FL) Emergency Management Senior Planner discussing Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts for the Florida Keys.
Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Florida Governor Rick Scott discussing strategies in the Monroe County EOC on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.
Glad to see cabinet level support of our disaster here in Branch V!
Numerous follow-up interviews were conducted and for me just seeing officials support our boots on the ground efforts and collaborate with so many other agencies is refreshing.
DHS/FEMA Division Supervisor Mark Landry (FCO Cadre Member) briefing with Florida National Guard leadership and Marty from Monroe County Administration on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts for the Florida Keys.
Here’s a sneak peek of the other side of the room with all the media.
Just some of the media who were allowed in the room for Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Florida Governor Rick Scott on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.
Fun times in such a small room!
More work today as the official FEMA public information officer.
Your faithful DHS/FEMA Branch V Division A PIO Kevin Sur overseeing the Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Florida Governor Rick Scott multiple interviews in front of the Monroe County EOC on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.
Reporting live from the Florida Keys…
Where is @rusnivek? 