Where is @rusnivek?

Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

FEMA Support for Hurricane Harvey response including key safety messages

Posted on August 27, 2017 by rusnivek

Key Safety Messages:

Continue to listen to local officials.
Only call 911 if you have an immediate need for medical attention or evacuation assistance.
- If you can’t get through to 911 on first try, keep calling.
- Another option is to place a call to one of five numbers for the Houston Command Center of the United States Coast Guard. The numbers are:
  - 281-464-4851
  - 281-464-4852
  - 281-464-4853
  - 281-464-4854
  - 282-464-4855
Don’t drive on flooded roadways. Remember – turn around, don’t drown.
If you are in a high rise building and need to shelter in place, go to the first or second floor hallways or interior rooms. You want to stay on floors above floodwater or storm surge, but do not go to the highest floors due to wind impacts.
If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in the center of a small interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.

@rusnivek

I better check my email now…

Posted on August 26, 2017 by rusnivek

I better check my email now…

@rusnivek

#Hurricane #Harvey #Barricades? Turn Around Don’t Drown #FEMA #TADD #TXWx

Posted on August 26, 2017 by rusnivek

As ongoing operations continue for survivors of Hurricane Harvey – key messages need to be repeated as Hurricane impact turns into catastrophic inland flooding.

Do not drive through flooded areas. Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

I encourage all Public Information Officers / Public Affairs Officers (PIOs/PAOs) to continue to share/amplify FEMA messaging like this to all their audiences.

#TurnAroundDontDrown

@rusnivek

Graphic: Turn Around, Don’t Drown. This graphic is part of the Flood Safety collection.

Public Works (ESF-3) part of the response phase #Hurricane #Harvey #Port #Arkansas #Texas #Disaster

Posted on August 26, 2017 by rusnivek

I talk about it all the time in class – Emergency Support Function-3 (ESF-3) is an important part of our RESPONSE effort in a disaster.

Why do I talk about this all the time? Public works isn’t considered the traditional Fire or EMS or Law Enforcement….but when faced with this….

Photo credit: Gabe Hernandez (@callergabe) from Hurricane Harvey in Port Arkansas, TX – 08-26-17

Public Works’ efforts with so many various resources allow all public safety to get to affected areas.

Photo credit: Gabe Hernandez (@callergabe) from Hurricane Harvey in Port Arkansas, TX – 08-26-17

Often times, people believe public works is only for recovery and clean up. That is not true. As you can see, we clearly need them during the response phase – just to get to affected areas.

Photo credit: Gabe Hernandez (@callergabe) from Hurricane Harvey in Port Arkansas, TX – 08-26-17

Get to know your public works professionals now. They are an invaluable resource for the response phase.

@rusnivek

Busy morning at FEMA HQ in Washington DC

Posted on August 25, 2017 by rusnivek

Busy morning yesterday and today. Lots of preparation going on for Hurricane Harvey.

So many hard-working Emergency Management pros from FEMA are working the magic to support those in the path of Hurricane Harvey with coordination of resources for deployment.

Reporting from FEMA HQ…

@rusnivek

Last day of #preparedness talks in Georgia in Glynn County

Posted on April 27, 2017 by rusnivek

Another great day in Georgia talking about preparedness to various pros.

Special thanks to Glynn County (GA) EMA Director Jay Wiggins for hosting the class…

…and special thanks to Laura Ginn who coordinated efforts on behalf of everyone in City, County, and State of Georgia.

Glad to see so many participants here to learn but more importantly, share information and challenges and success stories they found within their community. Espically when it comes to senior care and supportive care – these issues need to be talked about openly and various members of family and staff need to be aware of challenges they may face when disaster strikes.

Aside from www.ready.gov program – there are a ton of other agencies to follow to ascertain great and trusted information.

Remember, a short time ago, this entire area was hit by Hurricane Matthew with MANDATORY evacuations.

Building these kinds of relationships before a disaster can only strengthen our efforts in response and recovery.

Plus, it’s super awesome to hang with like-minded individuals who are so dedicated to preparedness.

Be safe peeps!

@rusnivek

Children’s book on Hurricane Watch

Posted on January 2, 2017 by rusnivek

Since it’s quiet in the office today, I’ve been assessing a few new kid preparedness and teaching tools.

Do you think Melissa has one on “Hurricane Warning” too?

Teach your kids about being safe and heeding all warnings from your local National Weather Service (NWS) office, Emergency Management officials, and public safety professionals.

@rusnivek

NRCC from Level II to Enhanced Watch #Hurricane #Matthew

Posted on October 11, 2016 by rusnivek

From FEMA Disaster Operations:

Washington, DC, Part of the DHS seal, the FEMA logo and the DHS Flag, on the wall in the National Response and Coordination Center. FEMA/Bill Koplitz

“Today, the National Response Coordination Center, in coordination with Region IV and field leadership, transitioned from Level II activation to an Enhanced Watch.”

1280px-fema_-_26063_-_photograph_by_bill_koplitz_taken_on_08-29-2006_in_district_of_columbia

@rusnivek

Sunday Comms

Posted on October 9, 2016 by rusnivek

Sunday Comms:

(Pertaining to Hurricane Matthew operations) “…you can anticipate onward movement and integration into the operations supporting one of our impacted states – FL, GA, SC, or NC.”

DHS%20logo fema_logo

Numerous Federal assets are deployed out.

Safe travels for those deployed/deploying out and I hope survivors have heeded all warnings of the bad weather are sheltered out of harms way.

@rusnivek

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

Posted on October 6, 2016 by rusnivek

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

PhotoCredit: @BelmontCollege

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

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!

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!

cugrv2qxyaa_fai

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

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).

cugbqf7ueaalpmd

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!

cugbqf6viaaulhc

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).

cugbqf8uaaafy3z

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