Help your Dad before a disaster strikes #NatlPrep 

When making a plan for your family, do include planning for your Dad. That’s right, Dads could be in danger!

Sturdy boots are a must-have for any emergency preparedness kit. Or else this could be your Dad. #NatlPrep 


In an emergency, make sure your Dad is safe.


Plan ahead and stay safe!

@rusnivek

Changing my Saturday plans in 3…2..1…

Welp, Saturday plans will have to look slightly different now.


Better mount up as I *think this is for Texas.


Well, I don’t *think I’m going to need my tie, but definitely my best pair of boots.

Incident Management: External Affairs Media Relations Spc…aka PIO!

Along with #Harvey – I spy with my right eye, #Hurricane #Irma

@rusnivek

Family plans: Comforting items for children in disaster #NatlPrep 

When making your plan for your family do include planning for all the kiddos. 

Keep comforting items like favorite stuffed animals that will help children cope with adverse events in an emergency. 


For more preparedness tips this month, follow along throughout the month. 


Stay safe and plan ahead! 

@rusnivek

State of Ohio EMA G291 Joint Information Center / System class at Medina County EOC

Packed State of Ohio EMA Joint Information Center / Joint Information System course today!

Started everyone into group work as well as ongoing discussion on the role of SMEs at a press conference.

Just in case, we also tasked participants to start thinking about a policy/protocol for their agency on sneak attack aka ambush interviews.

We found as we leverages our strengths and capitalize on our skills, we as JIC Managers can better meet the needs of any situation – we just gotta find the right PIOs for the job.

As our groups collaborated, we found that despite crossing state lines, we still have the same problems as other areas – thus proving our point that we need to consistently train together and exercise our plans together.

Many of our participants enjoyed working in the JIC setting and were excited to work in a JIC during the next activation. Most excellent as we build a strong cadre of PIOs across this great state.

My Ohio Peeps!

Reporting live from Medina County’s Emergency Operations Center….

@rusnivek

Surviving catastrophic flooding and key USAR numbers deployed

A few home safety tips on surviving catastrophic flooding.


Some key USAR facts (from this morning’s brief):

  • 6 type-1 FEMA USAR Task Force Teams deployed.
  • 8 type-3 FEMA USAR Task Force Teams deployed.
  • 13 Water Rescue Teams from FEMA USAR Teams deployed.
  • Over 900 USAR personnel working.

Stay safe out there.

@rusnivek

FEMA Support for Hurricane Harvey response including key safety messages

Key Safety Messages:

  • Continue to listen to local officials.
  • Only call 911 if you have an immediate need for medical attention or evacuation assistance.
    • If you can’t get through to 911 on first try, keep calling.
    • Another option is to place a call to one of five numbers for the Houston Command Center of the United States Coast Guard. The numbers are:
      • 281-464-4851
      • 281-464-4852
      • 281-464-4853
      • 281-464-4854
      • 282-464-4855
  • Don’t drive on flooded roadways. Remember – turn around, don’t drown.
  • If you are in a high rise building and need to shelter in place, go to the first or second floor hallways or interior rooms. You want to stay on floors above floodwater or storm surge, but do not go to the highest floors due to wind impacts.
  • If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in the center of a small interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.

 

@rusnivek

 

Busy morning at FEMA HQ in Washington DC

Busy morning yesterday and today. Lots of preparation going on for Hurricane Harvey.


So many hard-working Emergency Management pros from FEMA are working the magic to support those in the path of Hurricane Harvey with coordination of resources for deployment.


Reporting from FEMA HQ…

@rusnivek

Meetings at FEMA HQ and prep for Hurricane Harvey

Fun time this morning at FEMA HQ.

Quick meeting with my manager and a quick hello to our other External Affairs pros on the 8th floor.

Additionally, lots of planning ongoing for the preparedness/response for Hurricane Harvey. And lots of senior administration here today to update ongoing issues as well as brief leadership on various branches of government.

Photo Credit: FEMA/Bill Koplitz

Despite the ongoing flurry of activity, I was still able to grab a few smiles from my External Affairs peeps.

@rusnivek and @EmergencyPrepGal

We are going to need everyone to listen to trusted sources of local, state, national information on safety measures being implemented throughout affected areas.

Please heed the warnings of your local public safety professionals.

  • If told to evacuate, immediately do so.
  • Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
  • Most of all, grab your preparedness kit and keep family/friends close as Hurricane Harvey makes landfall.

Be safe peeps.

@rusnivek