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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

Day-2 of FEMA Basic Public Information Officer Program

Posted on July 6, 2017 by rusnivek

Day-2 of FEMA’s Basic Public Information Officer Couse started out with reviews of all crisis interviews.

Collaborating on communications tactics with various agencies allows PIOs to craft the right message – esp in a disaster.

Erica had a chance to share JIC efforts from the Republican National Convention.

And you know I shared some tactics and tips on ascertaining open source info utilizing geolocation/metadata during a National Special Security Event. I also chatted briefly about tools field PIOs should use when deployed out.

After lunch we were fortunate enough to hear from a great panel discussion: Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine, the Information Officer for central Indiana and RTV6’s Investigative reporter Paris Lewbel.

Both panelists candidly shared information with everyone attending.

Side note: Sgt John Perrine is the brains behind the truly viral PSA hit on vehicles turn signals. Check it out here.

Great to work with so many pros today.

@rusnivek

This week, we are starting another G290…

Posted on July 5, 2017 by rusnivek

Another great start to a solid G-290: Basic PIO Course with WTFD.

Greetings and welcome to everyone in Region-5 by Capt Mike Pruitt.

Started out the morning with building a base of core PIO principals including reviewing writing that targets a specific target audience.

Photo credit: M. Pruitt

Ahem. Press releases are almost dead.

Erica talked about how critical Incident Communications Analysis plays a big part in how our audience uses/digests information.

We started all the on-camera interviews after lunch. Lots of great interviews…

Photo credit: M. Pruitt

…and solid techniques showcased in the field interview exercises…

Photo credit: M. Pruitt

…many of the participants are already functioning as PIOs within their own communities.

Photo credit: M. Pruitt

Group work in the afternoon…

…with more discussion and reporting out of critical facts while writing talking points.

We are so fortunate to have such a diverse class of participants willing to share information.

Reporting live from the most funnest PIO class ever…

@rusnivek

Day-4 of the DHS/FEMA AH NIMS ICS IMT IC Course at OEMA

Posted on June 22, 2017 by rusnivek

Day-4 of the DHS/FEMA All Hazards NIMS ICS IMT Incident Commander course here at Ohio EMA.

Lots of sharing of ideas esp from our partners from the US Foresty Division.

Obviously, they deal with large incidents all the time – esp this year being an already busy wildfire year.

Additionally, talking about the entire Command and General Staff and how they interact with all other positions are key to formulating a successful team.

Just glad we have everyone contributing to the conversation.

Lots of passionate people wanting every community to work together and succeed.

@rusnivek

Stopping by DuPage County HSEM on #AlohaFriday

Posted on June 16, 2017 by rusnivek

Not going to lie…I think DuPage County Homeland Security and Emergency Management has some of the neatest stuff.

Like legit old school Civil Defense stuff!

Fact: Did you know DuPage County used to have an underground impervious EOC bunker? Seriously just like the old War Games EOC “Crystal Palace”. Probably didn’t have a WOPR.

Great to briefly chat with DuPage County HSEM Director William Babyar too. Lots in common.

Special thanks to DuPage County HSEM PIO John Nebl for the grand tour and meetings.

Famous x2! @rusnivek + @SchaumburgNebl #AlohaFriday

Looking forward to supporting DuPage County operations.

@rusnviek

Best Practices for Incorporating…

Posted on April 12, 2017 by rusnivek

A few good friends sent me the new Best Practices for Incorporating Social Media into Exercises released by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology First Responders Group.

2017-April-Best-Practices-Incorporating-Social-Media-Into-Exercises-508

Click on the link above to download the entire pdf.

Lots of good reading info in there from the International CAUSE IV experiment that I contributed in Michigan and our international partners in safety – Canada Public Safety.

@rusnivek

Final day of the AH #IMT #Logistics Section Chief course w/ OH-TF-01

Posted on February 10, 2017 by rusnivek

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

Amazing stuff!

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

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

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

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

My “new” instructor guides for 2017

Posted on January 3, 2017 by rusnivek

2017 new year includes a few new things.

New year = “new” instructor manuals. #excited

Now to transfer all my instructor notes from my old ones to the new ones.

Yep-I’m Captain Exciting!

@rusnivek

Craig Fugate keynote at #IAEM16

Posted on October 17, 2016 by rusnivek

Packed house to listen to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate here at the 2016 International Association of Emergency Managers annual conference in Savannah.

IMHO, I think it’s going to be “Craig unplugged.”