Tag Archives: hazards

Winter Weather Hazards class at DuPage OHSEM in December!

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A fine start to this crisp morning as the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management starting the FEMA NDPTC Winter Weather Hazards course!

Welcome intros by Director Murray Snow to our participants from across the state!

Glad to see so many of our most trusted partners here today with almost all Emergency Support Functions represented.

Great to have NDPTC Instructor Rob Dale here again from Michigan where we know the weather there is more worserer than here.

His insight from a small EM agency and weather perspective allows us to see how to increase our ability to address and target specific audiences.

Outstanding to have John Scala. I love his teaching style and ability to share critical points in class is critical because science is…well…hard.

John’s ability to answer questions and explain complex weather issues is so important esp to those of us who are not trained as a MET. Additionally, several of our participants recognize him from his time as a broadcast meteorologist days.

With this class stacked w/ legit meteorologists, I am proud that these classes are a big hit with our peeps!

Just in time because the weather outside is frightful…

Stay warm peeps!

@rusnivek

Instructing FEMA NDPTC Winter Weather Hazards at Effingham County EOC #Illinois

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Starting out the morning in Illinois at the Effingham County Emergency Operations Center!

Glad to see sooooo many smiling faces here to learn about preparedness and science with our efforts to better prepare our public safety partners on winter weather hazards.

And sharing how critical the National Weather Service is to our daily response and every single Emergency Operations Center is essential for all professionals in any emergency. No matter where you are in the US, there is a NWS office to support your daily operations.

Sharing important information on the science of weather including how to discern these crazy charts, graphs, and data make it easier to understand how tough meteorologists have it when trying to forecast the weather.

And sharing real case studies and discussion the evolution of how response officials work together is critical for any community across this great nation.

Teaching at Effingham County helped me realize they got some really cool stuff here (aka Emergency Management toys resources!)

Special shout out to Pam and the entire crew at Effingham County EMA as well as everyone in Illinois Region-9.

Looking forward to seeing all of you at the next big one!

@rusnivek

This is what we train for

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FEMA Administrator Brock Long made a poignant statement about his employees today in the NY Times:

“…this is what we train for” – FEMA Administrator Brock Long

Brock Long, center, at a briefing on Hurricane Harvey relief efforts with President Trump and local organizations in Corpus Christi, Tex., last week. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times

Brock Long, center, at a briefing on Hurricane Harvey relief efforts with President Trump and local organizations in Corpus Christi, Tex., last week. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times

Yes sir, we train all the time.

Many instructors across this nation can attest the long hours we spend providing training for hundreds of thousands of our all-hazards public safety professionals from all walks of life.

This is truly what we train for.

@rusnivek

 

The newest class of All Hazards #IMT Logistics Section Chiefs

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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

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Amazing stuff!

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

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

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

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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

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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 

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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. 


Region-5 and Region-2 and Region-4 in the hizzouse!!!! 


Great engagement from numerous partners in public safety.


Day-1 done. Looking forward to a great week of Logistics with everyone.

@rusnivek

Day-3 Ohio EMA ICS 300 course with 911 PSAP & Belmont County EMA EOC

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Third and final day of the Ohio EMA ICS-300 course at Belmont College.

PhotoCredit: @BelmontCollege

PhotoCredit: @BelmontCollege

Mid morning, we had lots of great discussion for formal demobilization plans as well priority release procedures.

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Our class had some serious discussion on cost vs expectations on resources. If you’ve ever been deployed to a disaster, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Rounding out to the last module, almost test time!

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After the class was over, I was able to score a visit to Belmont County 911 dispatch center for our class. So I invited the whole class to attend too!

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Special thanks to Mr. Hudak for the tour and detailed explanation on normal operations in their Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) / 911 call center.

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Our class then moved over to the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency where our class was given a formal tour of their Emergency Operation Center (EOC).

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They just happen to be monitoring Hurricane Matthew – so that made it even better for all participants to see how this EOC can monitor any situation in real time. Thank you Belmont County EMA!

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Positions ready…Executive Policy Room ready…ARES Comms center ready…fully operational…who could ask for anything more?!!?!? Even the bonus resources they have were great to see how they could support operations and paint a better picture to increase situational awareness / common operating picture (SA/COP).

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Gah, I see this EOC being a great resource for many all hazards partners in public safety.

Great to showcase the efforts of local emergency management professionals and how they pair with Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA).

Special thanks to Glenn Trudo and Belmont College for being such gracious hosts for the OEMA ICS-300 class.

@rusnivek