Double hit at the start of the shift!
“Everyone goes!“
Priority transport, possible evacuation, and alarms sounding.
Looks like it’s going to be one of those weeks.
Reporting live from 242 command…
Double hit
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Tag Archives: Fire
24 years later, September 11th
A lot has changed in 24 years…
That morning, I remember being notified early on that ZOB reported UA Flight 93 with garbled radio traffic in distress.
Take the time to reflect and talk to the younger generations on the importance of dedication, service, sacrifice, and safety for all.
Be an advocate for change and an inspiration for generations to come.
Reporting live from my office…
Trust me, we need a little Ben
Whoa.
I want one.
I mean, we have some big buildings right?
Ben, you said our onsite hydrant pressure was really good right?!? I promise you can nickname it the “Little Ben”
Well, maybe we can put Chicago Fire’s new 6-7-3 aka Deluge Wagon on our box card. 6-7-3 resides in CFD’s Special Operations division.
Reporting live with Wagon envy…
EPR’s dream team!
Have you ever wondered who leads the key components of Emergency and Preparedness and Response (EPR)?
Say hello to your dream team.
L to R: Emergency Management, ProForce, and Fire Department
Awwwwww yeah.
Annual interface training today
To better acclimate our public safety partners to our operations, we hosted our annual off-site agency interface training today.
Fire, EMS, Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, and key players from state and Federal were also on hand to make sure we are a well oiled machine when it comes to inbound resources.
Glad to see so many familiar faces on site today.
Just another way Emergency Management leads the way to collaborate with our most trusted partners in response and recovery.
Reporting live from today’s sesh…
Cross training for operational rescue at Argonne
Ladder trucks are an important part of any Fire Rescue operation.
So cross training with specialized equipment is critical to the success of any response/recovery. So today, our FD got to hang with Westmont Fire Tower 183.
Even got a chance to get my Hazard Analysts in the bucket too.
All smiles as we start the long weekend.
Be safe out there!
September 11th 2020 – 19 years later.
As we reflect on one of the darkest days in our country’s history, we remain thankful for the sacrifices and determination of everyone involved.
2001 was almost two decades ago. Whoa.
Many have asked what I was doing on September 11th. You can read about it here.
Proud to have worked to support FDNY after the attacks primarily serving at 44 Engine in Midtown Manhattan.
We dug at the pit but sad that our crew didn’t find a body to return to the families that lost everything.
Regardless of time, all Firefighters are proud to honor each of the fallen.
My 343 Brother Firefighters who died in the line of duty will never be forgotten.
Tacked on the wall at 10s house
Fast forward to 2020, and we’re all having a rough year. But we as a nation must come together.
While it seems bad right now, we will persevere and overcome these challenges.
We will recover and rebuild because we’ve done it before. Trust me, I’ve been in One World Trade and it’s wonderful in there. Special thanks to my friends at FEMA Region II.
Thanks to Delia and the crew at FEMA Region-2!
…and the views was spectacular.
View of the Hudson River looking east from One World Trade Center
Statue of Liberty (south view) from One World Trade.
The view of West Street (north view) from One World Trade.
However, we will never forget the sacrifices heroes have paid for these freedoms we enjoy. At the base, of One World Trade sits the daily reminder – two incredible tributes to the victims of the September 11th attacks from the former WTCs.
Part of the September 11th Memorial in NYC.
Our colors don’t run. Our fight for freedom will will never waiver.
We has never been shy about being in front and fighting for what’s right. As you know, our nation has gone to the ends of the earth to ensure safety…and we hope to continue this Herculean effort to protect freedoms for decades to come.
“…and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity…”
America the beautiful, my home of the brave.
Bridges are out…now whut? #NatlPrep
As we near the end of the first week, we should also consider our planning and look at evacuation routes. As far as things go, most major routes should be open esp in emergency to allow for those who need to egress to GTFO of there right?!?
While in perfect situations, this would be the case. But lately, we’ve had some challenging situations across the nation that leads me to believe we may not have the option to evacuate safety out of the city.
While most days, all the bridges are down in Chicago.
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However the City of Chicago has had some bad luck and was forced to pop the bridges to curtail silly behavior at night.
With almost all the bridges up, that makes travel through the loop a bit more complex and challenging esp when things happen last minute and late at night.
To help deal with these challenging situations, subscribing to the mass notification systems would provide additional information on which roads are closed but amidst the ruckus, perhaps planning alternate routes out of your location would be best.
Easier said than done but necessary when faced with pressures of the safety of yourself and your family.
While it doesn’t have to be a straight shot out, you can exercise various options on how to exit your location and safely rondevous with loved ones in other places.
Remember, plan at least two alternate routes of egress from your location and try your hardest to reduce the amount of complexity after a disaster/emergency.
As always, remain vigilant and make sure you and your family are safe by planning now.
Reporting live on AlohaFriday…
Site visit ending up at AFD Station-8
Is it kinda like the elephant march when we line up ambulances outside?
Overcast dreary morning as we continue to support our public safety pros in the field 24/7. No rest for the weary!
But after Chicago, I was able to switch out to Aurora Station-8 as we discuss some ongoing issues and see how we can creatively explore more training/exercises to increase partnerships/coordination.
Lots of discussion on our ongoing FEMA Emergency Management Basic Academy as we continue to share the good that the DuPage County OHSEM does for all partners.
Sometimes it’s difficult for people to understand that Emergency Management is a different field than 30 years in the fire service or 30 years at the police department or 30 years working at an EMS service. Definitely not the same.
So in that same vein, we need to tailor our classes and exercises to address the all-hazards approach and address all partners.
We are fortunate that our classes are geared to hit all 15 Federal Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) in accordance with national plans. Our guidance is clear as we align with national doctrine, state grants/guidance, and local response plans to coordinate and execute any needed response plans.
The crux is that Emergency Management in the EOC will be the coordinating entity during any emergency or disaster. Period.
In order for locals to execute, State to manage, and Federal to assist and support, we need to have a firm understanding of what happens every step of the way. I am proud of my staff for taking the time to see these things through and explore options for our public safety pros.
No doubt, these are the kinds of things that make our EM stronger and solid at supporting our peeps 24/7/365. We in Emergency Management must continue to build a rock solid collaborative effort with our key players so that when we need to exercise or execute, we can do it seamlessly.
Special thanks to the men and women at the Aurora Fire Station 8 for their warm hospitality. Looking forward to seeing all of you in class and future exercises.
Reporting live from the bay floors between Truck-6 and Engine-99…I mean Engine-8…
Morning briefing in the EOC with IL USAR TaskForce-1.
Morning briefing in the EOC with the State of Illinois USAR TaskForce-1.
Special thanks to OTFPD Chief Ralph DeLucca on providing information on their response as well as their resources.
It is imperative that Emergency Managers continually learn about teams and resources from their jurisdictions. In crisis, there will be no time to forge these relationships. Your interactions will be judged on how seamless your operations and rollout goes.
Experience will show itself in seconds. In order to call the shots, you have to talk the talk and have to have walked the walk.
Trust me, people are watching.
And judging.
Reporting live from the EOC this morning….
Where is @rusnivek? 