Good morning FEMA Region V!
Time to get my ICS-300 on because I am teaching ICS-300 with one of my Plans Section Chiefs Mark Ballard!
This one is an all Federal class here as we serve our DHS partners and various other organizations in learning about the Incident Command.
You know what day it is. On Wednesdays, we wear pink.
Reporting live from the FEMA RV RRCC…
“Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Pete Gaynor to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As Acting Administrator of FEMA throughout 2019 and into 2020, Gaynor led the agency’s recovery efforts for many devastating disasters, including the California wildfires, tornado outbreaks, severe storms, flooding in the Midwest, and the Puerto Rico earthquakes. And as Deputy Administrator for the 2018 hurricane season, Pete guided FEMA through some tremendous challenges to provide much needed assistance to disaster survivors across the country. Pete’s experience as both a state and local emergency manager, combined with more than two decades of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, have made him an invaluable leader of the agency. I look forward to continuing to work with him to support the men and women of FEMA as they carry out their incredible work.”
Congrats to FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor on his confirmation today!
Earlier this week on Thursday, I was informed of the passing of Phil Politano.
😢
Just like the PIO world, the news came with an embargo as I was told to hold on the distro of Phil’s passing until more details were released.
I was not ready to hear this.
Then FEMA EMI pushed the info out.
😞 😔 😢 I’ve known Phil for years. 😢
I cherish all my conversations with Phil, bending his ear on ideas, strategies, and how we can better serve our communities as leaders and still be innovative by stretching and setting the bar higher for others to achieve more.
Phil pushed me to do more.
I openly share info and talk about my duties as a PIO.
Again, Phil pushed me to do more.
I told my story about PIOs and how critical they are to the success of our mission in Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
Phil said you can empower more.
I increased my exposure and worked/traveled/trained more public safety PIOs across the country.
Phil smiled and said in his loud booming voice, “Well done man!”
Over the years, I have literally trained thousands of pros. There is no doubt in my mind, each one of them knows the importance of getting the right message, to the right, people, at the right time.
Phil’s oversight to my official FEMA PIO duties and actions helped make me a better PIO. He was always watching me.
Phil was always watching what I was doing.
Speaking of watching, I knew Phil was always watching me, this turned into a little game called the SURprise. Here’s one time I SURprised Phil at a secure USCG Base in California.
That was a good one.
Another time, I caught him delivering an exercise inject, eating a salad in the sim cell during a functional exercise.
A salad and Sur…who could ask for anything more!?!?!
<Sigh>
In 2018, Phil handed me my FEMA Master PIO certificate.
<sigh>
I was hoping to catch up to him at the end of the month at EMI. However, it seems that God needed a PIO and Phil got the ultimate deployment resource request.
Gonna miss his booming voice….
Gonna miss that side eye…
Gonna miss that PIO guidance…
I’ll just settle for that award winning PIO smile.
Trust me Phil, I’ll definitely take more notes.
Reporting with tears in my eyes…
Final day of the FEMA Emergency Management Basic Academy here DuPage County OHSEM. Lots of discussion about EOPs and #THIRA planning.
Enhancing the skills of our most trusted partners from Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois.
More group work as we address planning for our Whole Community response and recovery in this planning class.
Solid collaboration from all public safety representatives from local to Federal level.
Final group activity as we continue to enhance our Emergency Operations Plans.
Lots of discussion on sharing timely and critical information with access & functional needs populations.
Closing out this week’s packed FEMA Basic Academy on Aloha Friday.
Many thanks to local, county, state, and Federal officials/leaders attending representing FEMA Region 5 and FEMA Region 7.
Starting out the full second week of the FEMA Basic Academy!
Welcome to DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Director Murray Snow.
Glad to have our partners from NWS Chicago Mike Bardou joining us today too.
Our DuPage resident weather geek….I mean weather enthusiast John Nebl is here to share his weather emergency management knowledge too.
FEMA EMI Instructor Lenora getting into the meat and potatoes as we hit science big time this week.
Do you need the FEMA L0102: Science of Disaster Participant Guidebook?
Download it here –> L0102-ScienceOfDisaster-PG.
And if you were wondering #OOTD…
The socks match the tie.
HA!
Are you in our class this week?
Starting off our day-2 of ICS-300 here at DWFD with Jake and Elwood!
You know those two jokers executed their plans…to get the band back together.
This morning, we are joined by another representative from Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Region 4 Trainer Wendell Brewer!
Hope to lean on his recent expertise as a MEPP throughout the day.
Additionally, I got several inquiries on training that pertains to timely and proximity to the holidays (specifically any classes in December).
Look, it’s only December 6th. You need to calm down. You’re being too loud.
In short, disasters don’t take holidays or extended vacations. And neither do we. I am proud to see so many public safety partners attending our class from across the country.
Today, we hit the Planning P in full force as we brief our partners with the deets on the tactics meeting. We also dive deep on how important the ICS forms are (esp the 215 and 215A) for all tacticians and deployed personnel. I believe these two forms are critical to every single Incident Action Plans (IAP).
And for those that took ICS courses and thought they were boring and a waste of time or had poor instruction….that’s your fault.
Here’s proof that ICS participants, if provided solid instruction, can enjoy training and smile throughout class. I would say that the smiles probably help nurture transparent and dynamic conversation in class to solve legit problems that face any government agency. Sooooooo critical for any agency leader.
So go ahead and continue to complain about your experiences. Perhaps you just haven’t found an agency that provides solid instructors with real-world experiences that nurtures coordination and collaboration.
And as a true marker that I believe what we teach is impactful in all of our communities, I submit my sock choice for today. If we as leaders of our organization do not plan accordingly, we will likely become extinct.
Rawr.
Reporting live from the front of the class…
Midweek start to our FEMA IEMA DuPage Co OHSEM ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents at Darien Woodridge Fire Department Station 89!
And since it’s the holidays, I thought a little Mariah would be appropriate
🤣
Special thanks to Fire Chief Gorsky on the warm hospitality to all of our participants from across the country.
This week, I am fortunate to have Illinois EMA Region 7 Trainer Richard Williams along for the instructor ride.
Great to hear about his military experiences and how they used ICS. Additionally, lots of info to share on his assignment to the southern Illinois flooding this year.
And since I’m teaching with IEMA staff, I thought it would be appropriate to wear my Illinois socks.
Reporting live from Station 89…
Since we are starting the FEMA Basic Academy (L-0101) this week, here’s a few downloads for download.
Pre-Work Activities: Download the Pre-Work Activities .
Student Manual: Download the Student manual E0101 SM.
Individual Action Workbook: Download the Individual Action Workbook.
I was fortunate this week to sit down this week with FEMA Deputy Administrator for Resilience Dan Kaniewski at FEMA HQ.
Dan’s efforts across the country has helped pushed the importance of preparedness and strength for any community. With regular talks on flood insurance and hazard mitigation, his ability to bring pre-disaster planning to the forefront has been solid as we continue to help many communities better prepare for any disaster or emergency.
Dan’s hard fought efforts is not only with government agencies, but various partners in the public and private sector too. The importance of their efforts will only help better their community when disaster strikes.
Glad to see our top brass pushing for more preparedness every single day too.
Reporting live from FEMA HQ…Happy Aloha Friday peeps!
Tuesday morning and we’re talking about national continuity!
To some, it may not be exciting. BUT Continuity of Operations (COOP) is so critical to any organization esp to the resilience of any community post-disaster. So I was STOKED to see that I was invited by the National Continuity Division to be a part of the new FEMA COOP class.
And I was even more stoked to be sitting next to the class unicorn.
You see, if we as educators look outside our normal circles and lean on others from various agencies, there is much to learn. We had fine representation from numerous agencies from across the country.
For my lunch meeting I opted for a mini SMEM meetup with the American Red Cross Keith Robertory (@krobertory). We have been following for YEARS but have never met in real life.
Amazing these social media relationships because in our discussion, we have lots and lots in common. Friends, disasters, the list goes on and on…
Speaking of disasters, look who I found….
Streeeeeeeeeeeeeter! Yeah, we kinda twinsies today.
OK, I better get back to class. COOP/COG time!
Reporting live from C Street….
Where is @rusnivek? 