Tag Archives: hazards

Support your local first responders #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon

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Third solid week of 2016 National Preparedness Month! This week, we honor and celebrate all of our all-hazards first responder who serve tirelessly throughout the country.


Every day, thousands of first responders (paid and volunteer) put it all on the line for the general public we know and people we don’t know. Day or night, countless individuals respond to the call and make a difference in each community.

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In your community, support your local Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement agencies as they work tirelessly to provide safety for all communities big and small.

“Don’t wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.”

@rusnivek

The 2016 NMHSEM State Conference 

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Breaking down Winter Weather Hazards today at the state of New Mexico 2016 Homeland Security and Emergency Management Conference.


Solid bunch of preparedness and response peeps in the audience today.


Even had the pros from the NWS-Albuquerque staff here too.


Great discussion so far, excited for in-class activity this afternoon.

@rusnivek

This kind of parking is unacceptable #Chicago #Fire #Police

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One thing that bothers me is idiots who park in front of a hydrant.

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Not like 30-seconds, but more like hours and hours and hours.

THIS IS A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR SAFETY!

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So I called my friends at Chicago Fire Engine-35, Truck-28, Ambulance-62, Battalion-17 who advised that I call Chicago Police and inform them.

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So I did. Chicago Police promptly showed up and ticketed the car. #booya

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Hey Jagoff – enjoy your $150 ticket #0964100A (Within 15′ of fire hydrant).

Then a tow truck (hook) showed up and made my night because….

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…I now have full hydrant access again.

Hey Jagoff! Now enjoy your $150 charge for towing your vehicle and $20 storage fee.

Expensive night out for your blatant disregard of public safety. Hope it was worth it.

Friendly reminder to anyone: Don’t park in front of fire hydrants. Ever.

@rusnivek

 

Retrofitted military aircraft to support wildfire operations

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One of my friends in California just emailed me this picture.

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National Guard members have retrofitted various aircraft including this C-130 with alternate equipment for wildfire operations.

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I am really impressed with how local, state, Federal, and military assets are working together to control the wildfires. All-Hazards indeed!

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Nice work everyone!

@rusnivek

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

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

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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.

Frominos

Shakas because we are reporting live from Kentucky…

@rusnivek

Spent my day with my hometown CERT

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Spent my day volunteering with my hometown Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

On arrival, I thought I was going to get assigned a different task, but logistics and parking was the identified main concern and safety was an issue.

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After I got briefed on the event, I discussed our situation with all the participants. As CERT, we coordinated our efforts so that our actions/tactics could best match the safety of our personnel as well as others who were there attending the event.

I briefed the Mayor on our ongoing operations and even looked at a few alternate plans.

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Of course we continued to assess our event and think about other safety measures.

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And of course we had a few moments to share a smile.

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Fun fact, our Council President and Safety Chair is also a proud founding member of my awesome CERT Team. Booya!

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Seriously, I love it when elected members of local government give back to their community.

We identified a few issues that will need to be made for the 2016 event (like a formal all-hazards traffic plan with maps, uniformed vests, pre-event plan dissemination/distribution, more participation, etc…). Maybe a formal Incident Action Plan (IAP). Fairly easy stuff that we would be happy to share w/ our constituents.

Wait….What? You have never heard of FEMA’s CERT program before? Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

More info can be found on FEMA’s website here.

Want to volunteer within your own community? Want to make a difference in your community? Click here to locate the closest CERT Team to you!

As always, I believe I can make a difference in my community. Fun fact: I’ve been volunteering with my CERT since 2007.

I hope you will do the same.

@rusnivek

Building relationships now will only increase successes

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We must continue to work closely with our partners in all emergency services because the safety of the public is of the utmost concern.


I am proud of the work I am asked to do because it brings agencies closer together and ultimately in times of crisis, agencies will seamlessly showcase their skills together and find success together.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Because 6/6 is good numbers.


I hope your agency is building stronger relationships BEFORE any major emergency or disaster. By strengthening partnerships with a wide swath professionals, we can only become smarter and more successful.

 Call it “Increasing Situational Awareness/Common Operating Picture” or “All-hazards planning” – IDGAF.

Make it your prerogative to build relationships now. Right now.

Don’t make me step on your face. Do it!

This is the marker of many successful agencies.

@rusnivek

All-Hazards participants in today’s class in South Dakota

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Here for the class today. Numerous all-hazards responders including US Department of Interior, Bureau of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), US Forestry Service, FireAttack T-1/2 AHIMTs, local law enforcement, infrastructure, utilities, public safety comms, PIOs, healthcare, Tribal agencies, and Emergency Management professionals from South Dakota.


Nothing gets in the way of good training!


In breaking for lunch just now, participants asked if the fella over there with the hella good hair had any Taylor Swift.

Yes, I’m a very accommodating instructor – no problem!


Reporting live from the EOC…FEMA Region-8 baby!
@rusnivek

Teaching CERT stuff. Are you a part of your local CERT? 

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Teaching CERT stuff tonight. Shout out to all the volunteer agencies across the U.S.! 

  
Many Americans give back to the community every single day. In fact the bulk of the fire service in the United States are made up of volunteer firefighters.

It is incumbent upon us to be good stewards of local preparedness efforts.

I encourage everyone to participate in their local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Find yours local CERT here: http://www.citizencorps.fema.gov/cc/CertIndex.do?submitByState
@rusnivek