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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

FEMA OEMA G0290: Basic #PIO at the City of Cleveland EOC!

Posted on October 24, 2018 by rusnivek

Outstanding start to this week’s FEMA G0290: Basic PIO course sponsored by Ohio EMA and the City of Cleveland Emergency Management!

Special thanks to CEM Alex Pellom for the invitation to hang for a few days in the Emergency Operations Center!

Guess who I get to teach with this week? Fresh off the disaster wheel, Assistant Fire Chief Steve Bosso!!!

Don’t mind his grumps face, you’d be a bit tired if you were EMACed to work Hurricane Florence too. I’m excited to hear about his experience working with South Carolina’s Emergency Management Division PIO Derrec Becker.

And yes, if you were wondering, we are holding class IN the actual City of Cleveland Emergency Operations Center!

Interviews? Heck yeah – you know we did!

Incredibly valuable time on camera.

Spent some time doing group work and communications strategy with many partners from across the State of Ohio and the State of Pennsylvania.

Showcasing partnerships and strengthening collaborative messaging during the preparedness…

…will help during response phase planning and support for ongoing operations.

Additionally the blending of resources embodying the all-hazards mentality, is critical when dealing with larger disasters/emergencies. Here’s Police, Fire, EMS, Health, Public Works, and Executive Policy working together for a coordinated message.

Steve had a few injects too…like branding. Steve is a former photojournalist so he’s got the photog eye for these kinds of things with some fancy camera work…

And not to worry, in order to share real world experiences, we had our first subject matter expert – Cleveland Police Public Information Officer Jennifer Ciaccia stop by to talk about her experiences as the PIO for CPD.

So many issues to deal with esp during a National Special Security Event (NSSE) – the 2016 Republican National Convention! And of course a whole bunch of other cases including the 3 girls missing for 10+ years (Castro case), Facebook killer, CJ Saves CLE, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, etc….

Whew – full day! Great dynamic class.

Solid first day. Looking forward to day-2 of the Basic PIO!

@rusnivek

Day-2 of the 2018 DHS/FEMA Master PIO

Posted on September 18, 2018 by rusnivek

Day-2 of the 2018 Master PIO program and today we talk a bit about leading the future of PIOs nationally. Starting the discussion is USFA Tom Olashanski.

Lots to discuss and help shape the pathway for External Affairs. Everyone here contributing to the body of knowledge and discussing the future.

It’s more than just tools, more than protocols, it’s about how we move the ESF15 portion along and guide others to a successful career to supplement our Incident Commander as well as our mission objectives.

Also had some heated debate on current topics including the EAS system for mass notification.

Definitely the State of Alaska playing a heavy weight on current topics.

On to the presentation part!

So many different things to talk about.

A dynamic group and solid discussion all day and all evening long.

A completely dedicated bunch of peeps for sure!

@rusnivek

Day-1 of the final week of 2018 DHS/FEMA Master PIO class

Posted on September 17, 2018 by rusnivek

Day-1 of the 2018 DHS/FEMA Master PIO final week!

And yes, don’t have to look closely, I’m wearing a tie.

Stopping by is my good friend Interim Superintendent Steve Heidecker. Also sharing how proud he is of the staff at EMI and how they are augmenting the disaster response for Hurricane Florence.

Steve is an outstanding guy!

We most definitely had some solid PIO discussions at lunch…

And as you can imagine, with our class being from a bunch of states, we are all ready to enhance the PIO position in the Command and General Staff.

Yep, all smiles as we work through some complex problems for each of our respective jurisdictions.

Lots of great relationships as we plow through Monday of our Master PIO class.

More fun stuff this week!

@rusnivek

Last week of the 2018 DHS/FEMA Master PIO class

Posted on September 16, 2018 by rusnivek

Final week of 2018 FEMA Master PIO class at EMI.

Looking forward to seeing my cohort again and finishing up and defending our paper to the leadership staff at FEMA.

Man, I better concentrate!

@rusnivek

State of Ohio EMA – Basic Public Information Officer’s Course in Medina County

Posted on August 30, 2017 by rusnivek

Day-2 of Ohio EMA’s Basic Public Information Officer’s course here in Medina County EMA welcoming participants from two different FEMA Regions to our class!

We have representation from almost every ESF – outstanding to see that kind of participation in our state class.

It’s going to be a packed two days of training including classroom discussion…

…complex in-class activities…

…on-camera interviews…

…engaging (and crazy reporter) type questions…

…and of course we had several contentious mock press conferences.

Train like you fight right? We also discussed how our varied experiences lends a ton of expertise to our ongoing operations in any community across this great nation.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s JIC/JIS course!

@rusnivek

Day-2 of Ohio EMA Basic Public Information Officer Course in #SummitCounty

Posted on May 4, 2016 by rusnivek

Second day of the State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency‘s Basic Public Information Officer’s Course in Summit County.

Lots of discussion on the changes in public information especially with the use of social media in the 24-hour news cycle. #OMG

We were fortunate enough to hear from WKYC Reporter Jasmine Monroe and Videographer Carl Bachtel (NBC News affiliate) on what the media needs once they arrive on scene. Great insight to breaking news and media notifications.

Special thanks to WKYC’s Jasmine Monroe and Carl Bachtel.

As a class, we reviewed all media interviews and shared positives and points to improve – all geared toward enhancing PIO interview skills.

Reviewing the on camera interview with Twinsburg Lt. Marcus Ketner.

The final activity we broke into various PIO sections. This included an on-camera interview with talking points and bridging.

Jim McIntyre interviewing Elizabeth Foster while Mark Shane handles the videographer duties in the final G0290 classroom activity.

Great way to showcase newly acquired skills!

Jim McIntyre interviewing Elizabeth Foster for the final G0290 classroom activity

At the end of the day, I had a few moments to play our little holiday project aka #CJSavesCLE – just to showcase the power of when PIOs work with local media to make a wish come true for a day.

#CJSavesCLE

Solid day with so many new peeps!

Tomorrow will be G-291 Joint Information Center stuff! #excited

@rusnivek

Rolling out the newly revamped G0290 in Ohio

Posted on February 8, 2016 by rusnivek

My desk is a mess with course information, participants manuals, IGs, post-tests, classroom activities, etc…and as we start to plan out the rollout of the new PIO G0290 for Ohio.

G0290

I do enjoy popping new classes.

You guess it, February has just reared it ugly head. But don’t worry-

78nvDEY

Me too. I got a very positive attitude about this.

@rusnivek

Teaching the brand new DHS/FEMA Basic Public Information Officer Course

Posted on September 12, 2015 by rusnivek

Awwww yeah! This past week, I got a chance to teach part of the brand new DHS/FEMA G0290: Basic Public Information Officer Course!

Formerly known as G-290 course, this is the new FEMA Basic Public Information Officer course taught across the country for all public safety and emergency management professionals.

Thanks again to the Kentucky Emergency Management Agency and KESC for allowing me the opportunity. Also, special thanks to the ever fashionable Mike from NIOA.

Shakas because we are reporting live from Kentucky…

@rusnivek