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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

All-Hazardy participation and collaboration for flooding

Posted on August 13, 2014 by rusnivek

Great first day in our flood course here at Ohio EMA in Columbus.

I am fortunate that the participants in this class have outstanding stories from previous declarations and experiences from local, state, and regional responses during emergency flooding.

Some have shared their 500 year flooding stories from just the past 7 years (and clearly, it’s time to revisit the categorization and re-term these floods).

Here, FEMA staff, Ohio EMA staff, Ohio National Guard, and local Fire/Rescue services collectively discuss creative options to better serve numerous vulnerable population communities during an emergency evacuation during flooding.

IMHO, I really enjoy seeing this type of All-Hazardy professionals at the table.

Collaborating early can only strengthen joint response during any disaster.

@rusnivek

Wednesday meetings at FEMA #SURINDC

Posted on August 1, 2014 by rusnivek

As usual, I always make it a point to stop by FEMA HQ to meet with a few friends and teams working the FEMA magic.

First stop was to see the crew leading the Ready Campaign. Lots to discuss including the measure of preparedness and how we can more heavily promote preparedness digitally within each community. We constantly need to access our information that we are pushing and additionally make sure that the information is specific and actionable…esp during a disaster.

The general public seeks solid information FROM MOBILE DEVICES during an emergency. We cannot convolute the message, it must be clear and concise.

Did you know FEMA’s Ready.Gov program was featured at the White House Innovation for Disaster Response Recovery Event on Tuesday during the presentation by Appallicious? Check out the event and pictures here.

Mobile platforms must be easy to navigate and less cluttered. Almost everything is read on mobile platforms right? Duh! Esp since you can’t take/turn on your desktop computer while you are evacuating to an emergency.

Between meetings, I usually find a moment to take a funny picture with the hard-working FEMA pro, my friend Jana. She. Is. Hilarious.

Short meeting with the Digital Team at FEMA to discuss social media efforts and promoting great programs like FEMA’s SocialHub and Twitter Alerts.

But seriously, make sure you turn on your Twitter Alerts to get pertinent messaging from FEMA. It can be done from your mobile phone and it takes seconds to do.

In the coming months, we will be exploring a few classes that we can help cross promote a few programs. And I hope I get chosen to teach the class at FEMA HQ.

End of the day was spent chilling in the Executive Administration side of the house. And of course trying to catch a few moments with Craig.

Whew…what a day!

@rusnivek

Soooo, I’ll be in Washington DC next week…

Posted on July 25, 2014 by rusnivek

A quick update on next week’s trip to Washington DC aka my official invite to the White House…

I have been invited by The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and The National Security Council (NSC) to attend the White House Innovation for Disaster Response and Recovery Initiative on Tuesday July 29, 2014. Workshops in the morning and the event in the afternoon (Social Media, User-Centered Designs, and Predictive Analytics).

Additionally, I’ll be taking in a few other meetings with response and preparedness agencies including DoD, DHS, and FEMA. Alphabet soup gang huh?

Am I nervous? Yep. I’m just hoping I don’t throw up on important people.

I’m totes excited.

Suit up!

…

Event: White House Innovation for Disaster Response and Recovery Initiative on Tuesday July 29, 2014

This event will bring together technologists, entrepreneurs, and members of the disaster response community to showcase tools that will make a tangible impact in the lives of survivors of large-scale emergencies. The White House Innovation for Disaster Response and Recovery Initiative was first launched by the Administration in the wake of Hurricane Sandy to find the most effective ways technology can empower survivors, first responders, and local, state, tribal, territorial, and Federal government with critical information and resources.

Quick trip to DC?

Posted on July 15, 2014 by rusnivek

Breaking news…..

Whoa-did I just get invited to the White House?

Never done this before….More to come.

@rusnivek

Accountability is key in any event or disaster – Well done Chief!

Posted on May 17, 2014 by rusnivek

Glad to see my T-card class is being used already for all the public safety professionals in the Mahoning County area today for their big event Thunder Over the Valley.

Way to use ICS and NIMS for resource allocation on scene as well as in the air too (And we all know it’s not easy keeping up with the USAF Thunderbirds).

Also, check out a behind the scenes shot from Bazetta Fire Chief Dennis Lewis at their Incident Command Post. OSC, PSC, and RESL positions referencing those valuable T-cards.

For any occasion, event, or disaster – accountability will make or break you. So make sure your crews know what to do.

Keep up the solid work peeps!

@rusnivek

Here for my briefing

Posted on May 7, 2014 by rusnivek

Here for my briefing!

Time to get my game face on.

@rusnivek

Deployed down south

Posted on May 6, 2014 by rusnivek

Deployed down south.

Shhhhh, I’m trying to pay attention!

@rusnivek

Participating in FEMA’s #PrepareAthon Google Hangout #Prepared2014

Posted on April 7, 2014 by rusnivek

Participating in the White House Google Hangout now.

Glad to see engagement from numerous agencies especially Craig Fugate (@CraigAtFEMA) and Paulette Aniskoff (@PAniskoff44).

…and Paulette Aniskoff just asked my question.

And Craig responded.

Holy. Balls.

@rusnivek

My day at FEMA HQ #Prepared2014

Posted on March 30, 2014 by rusnivek

Had a chance to stop by FEMA HQ.

Also FEMA’s new MCOVs were on display right next to Quizno’s. Neeto stuff.

One of the highlights was a chance to sit and hang in the NRCC for a bit…just to see where the magic happens. Sa-weet.

Then on to the serious stuff. Lots of discussion with FEMA’s External Affairs folks pertaining to preparedness and readiness. #Prepared2014 – great stuff planned as we move into mid 2014. Truth be told, I’m just glad to be a part of the action.

I also enjoy meeting with people who are passionate about their jobs and really believe in their careers. It’s not often you get to see that kind of true dedication.

Running to make my afternoon meetings, I got a chance to hang with several Emergency Managers from around the country who were in town attending the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Mid Year Planning Conference in VA.

Not only are they true fellow emergency managers, more importantly, they are friends. Trouble was to be had since we tried to emulate Ellen DeGeneres’ Oscar night #Selfie for the other #SMEM folks. BTW-if you don’t know these peeps in this picture, trust me, you should. No seriously, trust me, you should.

Mahalos to Meischa Jackson for the assist.

I also got to sit down and talk again to Doc Lumpkins who is the Director of National Integration Center at FEMA HQ.

Haven’t seen him since the 2011 UASI Conference in San Francisco. I can’t begin to tell you how funny he is. I got nothing but mad respect for this guy!

In review, I should really make more trips to DC to meet with my peeps.

*sigh*

Now off to South Carolina!

@rusnivek

Social media remarks by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate

Posted on February 20, 2014 by rusnivek

Social media remarks by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqkRx0vpDeI

(From the 140 Conference 2011)

Thanks to CRESA911 for the upload.

@rusnivek