July is here! #2019

July!!! 3Q and the start of the second half of the year is rolling! July will definitely be a busy one as

First week, lotsa planning including the IPEM and ICS re-certification process.

Second week popping a FEMA PIO Awareness course with my new friends at Mundelein Fire (Lake County, IL).

Third week is vacation. First one all year. Don’t bother me.

Fourth week, we got more on the ICS refresher and then a few more ICS classes including an ICS-400 course for our DoD partners and the Illinois Air National Guard.

Fifth week, we got more planning and fun with ICS, EM Courses, and the ramp up to a few brand new courses debuting with my office.

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To recap, it’ll be an intense two region month with 5 and 9.

Hope to see you out there.

@rusnivek

 

New ICS 300 and ICS 400 debut tomorrow

Pretty excited to hear about the changes to ICS 300 and ICS 400 tomorrow. I know FEMA EMI has been working hard on these fundamental changes with the ICS structure and command and control.

The last update was really October 2013 so we are totes due for a refresh.

Yeah 2013-2019. Six years isn’t the typical cycle.

This refresh is going to be special as they embody the changes that DHS/FEMA Director of National Integration Doc Lumpkins has set forth in his NIMS refresh.

Proud to carry his work on throughout so many communities across this great country.

@rusnivek

To my fellow Americans….Happy 4th of July! #2018

To my fellow Americans….Happy 4th of July!!!

Cleveland, Ohio - 4th of July!

Cleveland, Ohio – 4th of July!

Here’s a few easy preparedness tips from the team at FEMA.

  • Leave the fireworks to the pros.
  • Keep children & pets at least 3 ft from grills & campfires.
  • Drink plenty of water – even if you don’t feel thirsty.
  • Check in on friends, family, & neighbors who don’t air conditioning.

And for those who are stuck inside/have to work, here’s a few fun option for you.

Maybe NYC is better?

No? How about Chicago?

Well, whatever you do, just keep it real safe everyone.

Happiest birthday to the greatest country in the world. #USA

America the beautiful.

@rusnivek

 

Run like hell?!?! #Fireworks

I’m no genius, but if your fireworks say this…

…then you likely could get hurt. So please PLEASE be careful this 4th of July holiday.

Also, fireworks are expensive. Leave it to the pros.

Here’s a quick news story with my friend Euclid Fire Capt Jay Northup on the dangers of fireworks who was injured a few months ago in NE Ohio. (click on the picture)

Fire Captain Jay Northup suffered a severe head injury, two ruptured eardrums, second-degree burns, and multiple bruises and cuts requiring 35 stitches after an accident involving fireworks. AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY

Fire Captain Jay Northup suffered a severe head injury, two ruptured eardrums, second-degree burns, and multiple bruises and cuts requiring 35 stitches after an accident involving fireworks. / AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY

Again, I would highly recommend that you leave the fireworks to the pros.

@rusnivek

July 2018

July is going to be busy as we launch into 3Q 2018!

First week: full of assessments, paperwork, skills verification, and maybe a big press conference.

Second week: Another fun ICS-300 class. This time, lots to discuss in the TTX.

Third week: county functional exercises and a last minute debris management course.

Fourth week: full scale county exercises at the Emergency Operations Center.

Likely some big news as we add on to the team.

Stay safe everyone!

@rusnivek

 

Ahhh another packed July!

Hello July! Is it really 3Q already?!?

First week I’ll be teaching another FEMA’s Basic PIO Course with JIC/JIS at WTFD. (How about them acronyms!)

Second week will be another ICS-400 course in the Emergency Operations Center

Along with another JIC/JIS course, third week will be spent at the COOP site. Wheeee.

Fourth week will include another PIO exercise specifically focusing in on social media. I’ll also need to confirm our 3Q PIO/PAO Training with NBC for our TaskForce.

Lots of planning meeting sprinkled into the mix and randomly working out of the COOP site will test operational readiness. Fun times.

@rusnivek

 

Joint SM and Intel SOG reviews for a large upcoming event

Reviewing my SOGs and social media assignments for the all-hazards social media specialists / intel positions in the JIC for an upcoming large scale national event.


An important part of any Joint Information Center (JIC): Now discussing the best non-verbal urgent alert hand signals for all staff deployed to the JIC.


Clearly, Mama PIO wins this round.


PIOs serving our community as well as our nation and of course planning for all kinds of “stuff”.

Great plans with solid PIO peeps makes all the difference.

Trust me on this one.

@rusnivek