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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

Rolling out the brand new 2019 ICS-400: Advanced ICS at the Illinois Air National Guard

Posted on July 25, 2019 by rusnivek

Goooooood morning all! Reporting live from the Illinois Air National Guard base for the new 2019 ICS-400 course!

Proud to partner with our Department of Defense assets from the US Air Force.

Outstanding kickoff from Chief Otto this morning as we continue to enhance the skills of everyone from across the State of Illinois.

As we kick off the class, it’s great to see participation from various agencies. Lots to discuss as logistical challenges between DHS vs DoD that clearly extend beyond resources and cost funding allocation.

Learning through realistic training helps concrete concepts presented…esp scenarios on area command.

Love seeing the familiar faces as we continue preparing our disaster responses pros from across the State of Illinois

Group work allows for all parties to contribute and openly discuss challenges they have seen with disaster operations.

It’s rare that locals get to partner and train with regional assets. In fact, in our new training, we get to showcase the skills of other larger national assets who focus on logistical support…like the Illinois Air National Guard – 182nd AirWing.

We close out the day talking about the importance of the EOC and how it supports the roles of Unified Command (UC) or Area Command and all the Incident Command Posts (ICPs) in the field.

Sharing the importance of good situational awareness and a common operating picture is critical in the success of any emergency response and the recovery of the community.

We often find that communities successfully recovery after a disaster much quicker if they are better prepared and exercise their plans…..yep, that’s called community resilience.

Proud to share our response successes with all of our participants from across the State of Illinois.

More tomorrow!

@rusnivek

Popping the brand new ICS-400 class for the Illinois Air National Guard – 182 Airlift Wing

Posted on June 4, 2019 by rusnivek

Looks like I’ll get to teach the new ICS-400 course at the Illinois Air National Guard – 182nd Airlift Wing base. Whohoooooooo!

Who’s in???

Alex, I’ll take the C-130 for $400!

@rusnivek

ICS 300 for the Illinois Air National Guard 182nd Airlift Wing

Posted on May 2, 2019 by rusnivek

Solid start to our FEMA IEMA DuPage County OHSEM’s ICS-300 class this morning with the Illinois Air National Guard with a welcome from Fire Chief Otto.

Making sure our DoD assets have the same training provides us an opportunity to have consistent interagency coordination in any disaster.

Group work provides a great chance to integrate various agencies and work into scenarios. Great dialog from all participants.

Since the 182nd is part of the Air Mobility Command, we also included several table tops to help incorporate the air branch for response logistics.

Incident command can be used anywhere…esp with prioritizing resources and supporting those who need critical needs from across the state and nation.

Great collaboration amongst all participants in preparation of disaster response challenges for all agencies involved. The time to discuss these issues is now in a bright lights classroom.

If you wait till the disaster, your poor decisions in crisis could be a disaster itself. So foundational multiagency training before a disaster is soooooo critical.

Proud to be here serving those who serve our country.

Many thanks to the hospitality from everyone here at the base.

Reporting live from the 182nd Airlift Wing…

@rusnivek

Setting up for class tomorrow

Posted on May 1, 2019 by rusnivek

Tomorrow’s going to be sooooo fun.

Looking forward to class tomorrow with the Illinois Air National Guard.

@rusnivek

2019 May is cray!

Posted on May 1, 2019 by rusnivek

Justin Timberlake better be busy too because this month because it’s about to get redic.

First week in May, our team was invited to teach ICS-300: Intermediate ICS to leadership staff at the Illinois Air National Guard.

Second week, will be the ICS-400 class and the solid bunch of social media classes (Basic Social Media, Social Media Engagement Strategies, Social Media Tools and Techniques).

Third week, we will be popping the FEMA G0290/0291 Basic PIO and JIC/JIS course with one of my favorite FEMA DSASers…Sister Michael!

Fourth week, I will be presenting at the 2019 National Preparedness Symposium at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Alabama.

And the last week is the full set of FEMA Basic PIO and JIC/JIS Course at Aurora Police.

If you are calculating that out, that’s 128 hours of straight classroom time.

Fortunately, I enhanced the playlist this past weekend.

Headphones in, affirm the mission and objectives, head down…No time for rest.

@rusnivek

FSE today for Regional JIC actions! #PIO

Posted on September 13, 2018 by rusnivek

Busy morning as we started our full scale exercise (FSC) today.

As players rolled in, they signed in and were matched up to their projected Joint Information Center (JIC) positions.

Some issues encountered by the participants? They have never worked together.

Realistic? Yep. Soooooo this is why we train and exercise together during bright lights classroom time. Again, I continue to believe, the worst time to meet someone for the very first time is at 0300.

Some general rules about the FSE including our work here in the JIC.

Steve outlining the efforts of social media injects and the Twitter.

Aside from regular play, we also had some VIPs visit. Jane from City Council showed up and I was detailed to share some of the issues, deliverables, and progress each of the tables were making as they continued the scenario.

Our social media team was hard at work not only discerning info, but also considering prioritization of tweets, impact of posts, and of course exploring various other platforms that could provide better SA/COP from data mining the locale using social media.

Not only the use of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram – but exploring SeeClickFix, Waze, Tinder, SnapChat, and a whole host of other platforms geared to provide information out in the field.

Here’s Erica questioning the viability of some posted information as well as verifying media info.

Say it with me: Trust, but VERIFY.

Our rumor control table helped provide supplemental documents as well as refined talking points for our social media teams as well as our on-camera talent. All bullet points right?

Assistant PIOs were hard at work discerning google docs for real time sharing of information.

Maintaining good tempo for a JIC Manager is crucial as they update themselves on the issues w/ the EOC as well as continue the message that matches w/ the SMART Objectives.

As time went on, we simulated a “change of command” where the JIC Manager formally passes command to the Deputy JIC Manager. Hint to new JIC Managers – to make this a smooth transition, you must train on this action.

***ICS reminder: The Deputy can assume the role of the primary position. An assistant cannot assume the role/duties of the primary position.

Meanwhile, us Controllers and Coaches got all the smiles.

Along with VIPs, we continue to stream Federal partners in to tour the working exercise JIC. Not only response questions, but long term viability and ongoing return to normalcy were stressed as we projected our move from response to recovery and how viable are the transportation companies.

See, recovery is critical right? Therefore resilience is critical for the community.

The Captain of the Port was able to brief out with all participants. Outstanding to have this kind of high level involvement in our FSE. Encouraging words to hear specifically addressing our nation”s current situation for security and safety.

Also, great messages of collaboration from the City/County Emergency Management Agencies on our FSE.

Additional discussion on upcoming evaluations and how hotwashes are critical as the team starts to piece together the AAR/IP.

But never fear, we did simulate a press conference lead off by the USCG Lt.

Joining the USCG leadership at the podium was EPA, and Mayor’s office.

Don’t worry, WSUR had some pressing questions like

How many are dead? (If you been through my Basic PIO course, you know this one)
Do you regularly train for this kind of emergency?
Have we been attacked before?
Are we currently under attack?
And the famous one: We got some leads from user generated comments but who is responsible for this horrific incident??

So I got a chance to discuss a few items from a training standpoint re: classes. Also a last minute pieces of encouragement for ongoing training and exercises as well as a strong guidance on planning ahead with everyone who is involved in the Regional Joint Information Center.

Glad to have soooooo many participants from diverse backgrounds involved in this exercise.

What a day!

Looking forward to seeing all of you on the next big one.

@rusnivek

Boat recovery in the Florida Keys

Posted on October 15, 2017 by rusnivek

Out today checking out the progress on recovery of boats in the area.

There are lots of them strewn about.

Also a bunch of them that are below water.

Like a lot of them. So I’m glad to see our partners from the US Coast Guard as well as other agencies supporting the recovery efforts.

Reporting live from a BOAT!

@rusnivek

FL National Guard supporting recovery mission in Florida Keys #TAG

Posted on October 5, 2017 by rusnivek

Got a chance to work with the Florida National Guard today. Their tasks set by Florida Governor Scott was clear to support Floridians in disaster recovery. FEMA’s role has always been to support and coordinate actions of resources in disaster response and recovery.

Here’s FEMA LNO John Allen greeted Brig General Canzoneri at the Key West International Airport.

Military partnerships are critical in a successful mission…esp this one. Hurricane Irma was devastating for almost all commmunities in the Florida Keys. Glad to provide Federal support to this team.

We were able to see the Florida National Guard working hard to cleanup one of the residential houses from a disaster survivor. We witnessed first hand those dedicated soldiers were giving to so many communities throughout the Florida Keys.

Hole in the roof? Roof ops? No problem. The National Guard has you covered.

A quick talk from the TAG to the troops and thanking them for their efforts…

…as well as a few words of wisdom from other leadership attending today’s events.

…but the work continued on for the entire team.

A handshake from leadership goes a long way.

Proud of their efforts in so many communities in Florida. Each one of them giving their time away from home, away from family…just so they can help rebuild another family.

This is what any American would do when someone needs help.

Believe me when I say, I am so glad to be a small part of this team and to tell this story. Great people helping out great people. Straight up, this is America.

This is what we train for. This is why we prepare. This is what we do

@rusnivek

Hosted the Gov, Acting Sec DHS, and FL EM Director

Posted on September 21, 2017 by rusnivek

This morning was busy with meetings with. Florida Governor Rick Scott and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke.

Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Florida Governor Rick Scott in an interview with ABC affiliate 10News from Miami on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.

Branch V Division Alpha!

Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security in the Monroe County (FL) Emergency Operations Center.

All part of the hurricane Irma response and recovery specifically address to the Florida Keys.

Key national leadership briefing on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.

Lots of partners and Public Safety attending as well as our partners from the US Coast Guard, US Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, and so many more.

Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Monroe County (FL) Emergency Management Senior Planner discussing Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts for the Florida Keys.

Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Florida Governor Rick Scott discussing strategies in the Monroe County EOC on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.

Glad to see cabinet level support of our disaster here in Branch V!

Numerous follow-up interviews were conducted and for me just seeing officials support our boots on the ground efforts and collaborate with so many other agencies is refreshing.

DHS/FEMA Division Supervisor Mark Landry (FCO Cadre Member) briefing with Florida National Guard leadership and Marty from Monroe County Administration on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts for the Florida Keys.

Here’s a sneak peek of the other side of the room with all the media.

Just some of the media who were allowed in the room for Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Florida Governor Rick Scott on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.

Fun times in such a small room!

More work today as the official FEMA public information officer.

Your faithful DHS/FEMA Branch V Division A PIO Kevin Sur overseeing the Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the US Department of Homeland Security and Florida Governor Rick Scott multiple interviews in front of the Monroe County EOC on Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery efforts in the Florida Keys.

Reporting live from the Florida Keys…

@rusnivek

Day-1 Ohio EMA Emergency Planning

Posted on September 5, 2017 by rusnivek

Welcome to another solid start of Ohio EMA’s G-235: Emergency Planning course!

Thank you to Ashtabula County EMA for hosting this class for participants from three different FEMA regions. Here’s Ashtabula County EMA Deputy Director Tim Settles welcoming message to all our participants.