Where is @rusnivek?

Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

Marching right in…is March!

Posted on March 1, 2017 by rusnivek

Marching right in…is March!

In the first full week, as 1Q starts to close out, I will be finishing up my yearly requirements including compliance and yearly required classes/re-certifications from the agencies I represent.

Second week, I’ll head to Boise to teach some advanced social media courses. Keep your eyes peeled for me in Idaho!

Third week, I’m headed down to Anniston for some FEMA Mission Ready Training with my favorite HQ peeps. Now you know, I wanted to attend the 2017 NEMA Mid-Year Planning Conference, but I just can’t swing it this year.

Then the fourth week, is packed with teaching some new peeps from Woodlawn, everyone’s favorite, ICS-400: Advanced Incident Command System (ICS).

Is it spring yet?

@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

The smell of fresh EOC in the morning…for a brand new Social Media course in Colorado

Posted on February 22, 2017 by rusnivek

“I love the smell of fresh EOC in the morning…”

Let’s get our social media on!

Say #Aloha to the brand new FEMA / NDPTC Social Media Engagement Strategies class!

Reporting live from the State of Colorado Emergency Operations Center…

@rusnivek

Trust me, I read through ALL my evaluations

Posted on February 20, 2017 by rusnivek

Monday morning..in the office.

As an Emergency Management Instructor, I read through all my evaluations. Like ALL evaluations.

It helps better my instructional delivery as a professional as well gain valuable insight to how participants perceive our enabling learning objectives and key points.

The comments below are from a course I taught last week.

“I have taken a couple dozen or so FEMA classes and these two are the best pair of instructors I have had!”

And of course commentary like this makes me smile.

“More Kevin”

Glad to know the things that we do make a difference.

@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

My new favorite MRE

Posted on February 13, 2017 by rusnivek

It’s Monday…but I think I found my favorite MRE.

spammre

Special thanks to my peeps at DHS/FEMA USAR Ohio Task Force-1.

@rusnivek

The newest class of All Hazards #IMT Logistics Section Chiefs

Posted on February 11, 2017 by rusnivek

Say hello to the newest All-Hazards Incident Managment Team Logistics Section Chiefs!

Photo Credit: Jeff Vaughn, FEMA USAR Ohio Task Force-1

Keep it real peeps.

Always remember, Logistics makes the magic happen.

@rusnivek

Final day of the AH #IMT #Logistics Section Chief course w/ OH-TF-01

Posted on February 10, 2017 by rusnivek

Day-5: Final day of the DHS/FEMA Ohio EMA All-Hazards Incident Management Team Logistics Section Chief course.

Again, special thanks to FEMA USAR Ohio Task Force-1 for hosting this week.

Solid morning as we talked about how the LSC frequently meets with the PSC well before much of the action happens.

In fact, it is likely that the LSC is at least 5 steps ahead of the OSC – to plan to supply and equip our tactical operations with the stuff they need.

Ohio EMA LSC Phil Johnson brief the class on how county agencies interact with our activated State EOC focusing in on resource ordering and task assignments.

Like good Logistics Section Chiefs, we debated the merits of pre-staging resources before they are needed for faster deployments and anticipating needs (leaning in).

Lots of discussion on EMAC and the success that the State of Ohio had with 2016 events including the 2016 Republican National Convention which was classified as a NSSE.

We discussed demobilization plans as well as factors that could contribute to delayed demob. As always, we emphasize on the safe return of all crews from disaster deployment.

At the end of the day, we were able to tour the DHS/FEMA USAR OH-TF-1 facility.

Amazing stuff!

Logistics plays a HUGE part of daily operations as they have thousands and thousands of pieces of deployable items needed for disaster operations.

So as you can see, LSCs have an insurmountable task of keeping order during non-disaster times.

For those in the military and are truly Logistics pees, I believe this is an amazing piece of equipment.

If you are a pro, and like to sling load your stuff, you should consider getting a few.

Special thanks to all the pros from DHS/FEMA Ohio USAR Task Force-1.

Yes it's Friday. That is an Aloha Shirt.

Yes it’s Friday. Look closely. That is an Aloha Shirt.

Superb ending of class with participants from numerous states on this #AlohaFriday!

Proud to serve my country and train other IMT LSCs from across this great nation.

@rusnivek

Day-3 of the AH IMT LSC course today feat #FDUL #MED #COML

Posted on February 8, 2017 by rusnivek

Great start to Day-3 of our FEMA All-Hazards Incident Management Team Logistics Section Chief course.

Welcoming the class this morning was Ohio Task Force-1 Team Leader Evan Schumann.

Over the years, Ohio Task Force-1 has been deployed to numerous national disasters.

You know me, I’m always proud of our entire state.

Their involvement with many others USAR teams across the country is critical in keeping the nation safe.

Today’s topics to includes:

Food Unit Leader (FDUL)
Medical Unit (MED)
Communications Unit (COML)

Key positions in the Service Branch under the Logistics Section Chief (LSC).

(That was your quick ICS online lesson for today. Reference your ICS Form 207 for more info)

Numerous agencies contributing great info today. Sharing of ideas are key.

Additionally, we have several Tennessee Task Force Team members in our class. Great disaster experience and sharing of ideas for any LSC.

DYK: Tennessee Task Force-1 is the most frequently deployed FEMA USAR Team in the nation.

Lots of discussion on resources and what kinds of equipment will be needed to support the BOO (Base Of Operations) as well as staging areas and keep personnel adequately fed.

Feeding Incident Management Teams seems like an easy task, but when you really look at providing healthy options and meeting all dietary options isn’t as easy as you think.

Bonus points for staying within budgets and caloric intake too.

And then allocating the resources neeeded to maintain and regulate these supplies are key piece in any disaster response.

This disaster response stuff ain’t easy!

Looking forward to Thursday’s class which will include deployable resources and equipment. What logistician doesn’t love that kind of stuff!?!?!

Reporting live from the home of Ohio Task Force-1…

@rusnivek

Day-1 of the All-Hazards Incident Management Team Logistics Section Chief course #IMT #LSC #USAR #OH

Posted on February 6, 2017 by rusnivek

Outstanding start to a week long All-Hazards Incident Management Team (IMT) Logistics Section Chif (LSC) Course.

Great week to be teaching in Dayton, Ohio – the home of FEMA USAR Ohio Task Force-1 (OH-TF-01).

We have outstanding participants from across the country including Ohio, Tennessee, New York, US Marshall’s Office, US Coast Guard, US Food & Drug Administration, and Ohio National Guard.