Demobilized. Now back assigned. Deployed for response #Irma

HQ, I copy the demob orders from Texas and Puerto Rico.

I also copy the new deployment orders for Florida.


Less than 24-hours.

@rusnivek

This is what we train for

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

 

I’m no scientist, but #Hurricane #Irma looks fugly

I have a weird feeling that it’s going to be Florida.


Things are spinning up and quite honestly, Hurricane Irma looks pretty fugly.

@rusnivek

NHC update on #Hurricane #Irma 09-04-17 at 0500

Despite the plethora of bad information being spread around, here’s the official track of Hurricane Irma.

Information from NHC and is current as of 09-04-17 at 0500.

Please plan accordingly.

@rusnivek

 

Help your Dad before a disaster strikes #NatlPrep 

When making a plan for your family, do include planning for your Dad. That’s right, Dads could be in danger!

Sturdy boots are a must-have for any emergency preparedness kit. Or else this could be your Dad. #NatlPrep 


In an emergency, make sure your Dad is safe.


Plan ahead and stay safe!

@rusnivek

Changing my Saturday plans in 3…2..1…

Welp, Saturday plans will have to look slightly different now.


Better mount up as I *think this is for Texas.


Well, I don’t *think I’m going to need my tie, but definitely my best pair of boots.

Incident Management: External Affairs Media Relations Spc…aka PIO!

Along with #Harvey – I spy with my right eye, #Hurricane #Irma

@rusnivek

State of Ohio EMA G291 Joint Information Center / System class at Medina County EOC

Packed State of Ohio EMA Joint Information Center / Joint Information System course today!

Started everyone into group work as well as ongoing discussion on the role of SMEs at a press conference.

Just in case, we also tasked participants to start thinking about a policy/protocol for their agency on sneak attack aka ambush interviews.

We found as we leverages our strengths and capitalize on our skills, we as JIC Managers can better meet the needs of any situation – we just gotta find the right PIOs for the job.

As our groups collaborated, we found that despite crossing state lines, we still have the same problems as other areas – thus proving our point that we need to consistently train together and exercise our plans together.

Many of our participants enjoyed working in the JIC setting and were excited to work in a JIC during the next activation. Most excellent as we build a strong cadre of PIOs across this great state.

My Ohio Peeps!

Reporting live from Medina County’s Emergency Operations Center….

@rusnivek

State of Ohio EMA – Basic Public Information Officer’s Course in Medina County

Day-2 of Ohio EMA’s Basic Public Information Officer’s course here in Medina County EMA welcoming participants from two different FEMA Regions to our class!

We have representation from almost every ESF – outstanding to see that kind of participation in our state class.

It’s going to be a packed two days of training including classroom discussion…

…complex in-class activities…

…on-camera interviews…

…engaging (and crazy reporter) type questions…

…and of course we had several contentious mock press conferences.

Train like you fight right? We also discussed how our varied experiences lends a ton of expertise to our ongoing operations in any community across this great nation.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s JIC/JIS course!

@rusnivek

 

Kicking off another Ohio EMA Basic PIO Course in the EOC

Kicking off another great Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) G-290 Basic Public Information Officer’s Course in Medina County’s Emergency Operations Center.

Photo credit: Erika Moran

Glad to see so many new PIOs from Ohio and West Virginia in class.

Now, the important point to remember is….

@rusnivek

Great training resource discussion with the State of Maryland EMA

I stopped by the State of Maryland’s Emergency Management Agency and EOC.


I had a chance to sit down with Executive Director Russell Strickland and talk about various Training & Exercise plans including a few ways to enhance their plans. Also caught up with the famous Doc Lumpkins!


Yep, that’s our classic pose. It’s the same pose as the EMI conference, White House Disaster Day, NEMA Conference, etc….

Obv we all had to have a quick meeting with City of St. Louis EMA Sarah Gambling-Luig.


#FlatSarah had to go to another meeting concerning #CityHallSelfie so the rest of us stayed to plan for upcoming classes.

Great discussion on various aspects of social media focusing on gathering information for tactical operation for SA/COP. Emily and Ed provided some great insight to upcoming plans for Maryland. Additionally, we also had a chance to chat about ready deployable PIOs to field tactical operations, Joint Information Centers (JICs), Incident Management Teams (IMTs), and increasing SA/COP for State of Maryland.


Looking forward to more PIO involvement with my Maryland peeps!

@rusnivek