I swear, I must be the only PIO without a ringlight right?
Here goes nothing…
Do I really need a ringlight?
Reply
Tag Archives: LESM
#MediaMinutes interview w/ RTV6 Paris Lewbel
As part of our ongoing efforts to help enhance the skills of the PIO across the country, here’s another #MediaMinutes interview w/ RTV6 Paris Lewbel!
For more information on Paris-
@Twitter: https://twitter.com/PLewbel
@Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plewbel/
@Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paris.lewbel
Happy Monday everyone!
City of Chicago OEMC, JIC, PSAP, and other stuff while hanging in the Bat cave
Good morning from the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications!
Located in the heart of the west loop, this multi functional location serves as a focal point for City EOC, JIC, Snow Command, PW EOC, Ops Center, 911 PSAP, etc….basically, I’m glad it’s a hardened facility.
Today’s Emergency Management topics have to deal with Disaster Assistance and Public Assistance. Hiya Wendellllllllllllllllllllllllll.
Of course, as a good Emergency Manager, we want to take a look at the host city’s EOP.
Lots to discern and digest from our partners.
Now, for those who refuse to share information and hold information tight to their chest….that’s dumb. You realize when the big one hits, your isolationist actions will prove to be detrimental to the success of the response/recovery of any emergency. Again, work closely with your partners BEFORE a disaster.
Looking down into the PSAP center floor, lots of call takers working the good for the community.
PSAPs and EOCs are kept relatively dark to help with eye strain. Telecommunications have a tough job. If you haven’t already done so, I’d recommend that you sit in their chair one day and observe. Quite honestly, I’d take working the squad any day.
Quick look into the City of Chicago’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) too.
And calm yourself PIOs….I found it.
Get your City of Chicago Joint Information Center (JIC) on baby! I sense I will be spending activation time here soon.
And yes, I’m wearing a tie.
As we close out response/recovery discussions for the day, we must spend more time thinking about cross training and enhancing our multi-jurisdictional skills. Working together is critical to any event or incident. We must overcome the stigma and the predisposed notion of kingdoms and fiefdoms. We must work together before a disaster. This will result in better response collaboration and recovery efforts.
Where am I? They threw up the bat signal so….
Reporting live from the Bat Cave:
I’m Batman….I mean @rusnivek
2019 National Preparedness Symposium (Day-1)
Early morning start to this Tuesday waiting for clearance from tower.
But before you know it, we are off heading 150 to the 2019 National Preparedness Symposium!
Awwwww yeah, training & exercises and all the FEMA peeps in one place here at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Alabama!
Started off with a talk from the National Integration Center on the new National Response Framework and Community Lifelines.
Chad walked us through soooooo many programs that Doc talked about previously. Glad to see his work has carried through to inspire a new generation of Emergency Managers.
Continued with spirited discussion from my friends at FEMA EMI on the ongoing efforts for the Emergency Management Professional Program.
Lots of recs on what to take and complete as they could (hint hint) require this for EMPG grant funding employees. Yes that’s right, they can mandate these courses to qualify for grant funds.
So yeah, I’d suggest you get on those courses right away.
Then we hopped deep into a FEMA Region 5 meeting w/ our partners from Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and of course Illinois. Overview of exercises “Basically, June is going to be insane.”
Grrrrreat.
Then, it happened. One of the Training & Exercise Managers called me out as “The Legend! We have a picture of you on our wall!”
Me: Blush
Joliet Fire Deputy Fire Chief gave us the biggest shoutout as they said to the entire region “Did you know DuPage trained all the Aurora Police PIOs? Their first day of the job was the day they had that shooting.”
Either way, it was good to report out for DuPage County OHSEM and their significant efforts in training for all provides from across Illinois.
And of course got a chance to see a few familiar faces in the crowd from Rhode Island, Vermont, Texas, California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Tennessee, New York, Kentucky, Louisiana, and of course Illinois.
Great to catch up to FEMA Region 8 James Taylor who served as my Disaster Recovery Center Manager during Hurricane Irma for the Florida Keys.
Glad to hear he is doing well.
Proud to see soooooooo many old disaster friends too.
Looking forward to hearing from Acting Administrator Pete Gaynor tomorrow morning as he will surely touch on our strategic mission objectives as well as building out a culture of preparedness.
Follow the hashtag used: #NPS19
Reporting live from the CDP….
Social Media Engagement Strategies for the AZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ peeps!
Thirsty Thursdays are here and we’re popping another Social Media Engagement Strategies class here at Pima County EMA (Arizona).
And of course we gotta keep it real to the course creator – our good friend Cheryl Bledsoe!
For those that know the origins of this picture, know how important it is for us to keep it consistent.
As instructors, we often love to incorporate pop culture references into class. This class was no different.
Oh yeah! Luckily it isn’t Wednesday.
So great to see collaboration with the NPS Wildfire folks. Also great to see a fellow Type-1 PIOs in the audience too.
Great minds think alike as we continue to prepare and engage various audiences…including during non-fire season.
Not only are we prepping tweets and Facebook posts, we are also diving deep into strategy.
Plans are soooooo important esp when we focus in on social media. Yes, many PIOs are responsive, but we also need to be strategic about our operations. When participants walk away from this class, they have in hand, a starting point for social media strategy that includes their partner agencies.
Since we can’t just run and gun, we must not cross the streams.
Ray, just don’t look at the trap.
Outstanding discussion amongst all participants as we share success stories and challenges we face daily on social media.
More importantly, it’s good to see genuine smiles in class. Lotsa smiles.
Facilitating discussion helps enhance relationships with all providers in disaster response and recovery. Additionally, people can address gaps and maybe…MAYBE find an agency that can assist or mutual aid in to fill that shortfall.
Proud to bring this engaging class to our partners in Arizona!
FEMA basic Social Media for Disaster Response and Recovery #Arizona
Good morning Arizonaaaaaaaaaa!
Welcome to the Pima County Emergency Management Agency as we kick off another basic Social Media for Disaster Response and Recovery class. Welcome intros from Training Manager Sandra Espinoza.
Glad to see so many agencies from across the state represented here in class today. Additionally, also good to be teaching with fellow Tier-1 Instructor Mary Jo Flynn.
As you know, MaryJo is a Region 9er too (Sacramento, CA).
Like a good Emergency Manager, I’m always looking at what other agencies have and how they do business. And yes, I esp look at what kind of creature comforts they have in their EOC. And without a doubt, I’d swipe right for this amenity in my EOC.
The folks at Pima County EMA are most definitely proud to have this amenity. #TotesJelly.
As a basic class, we are constantly talking about new apps and features. Here’s MaryJo talking about the FEMA App and their Disaster Reporter feature.
And you know that privacy is a huge concern so we spend a bit on making sure your settings as a government agency as well as personal settings are up to date.
Yes, make sure all your social media stuff is in order before a disaster…or else.
Most seasoned pros know that real Emergency Managers can adapt to most any situations. Big or small, tough or easy, we are flexible and can adapt to anything.
For those are worried about MaryJo and little old me? No worries. We are assimilating in here just fine.
Giddup – reporting live from our stagecoach!
2019 May is cray!
Justin Timberlake better be busy too because this month because it’s about to get redic.
First week in May, our team was invited to teach ICS-300: Intermediate ICS to leadership staff at the Illinois Air National Guard.
Second week, will be the ICS-400 class and the solid bunch of social media classes (Basic Social Media, Social Media Engagement Strategies, Social Media Tools and Techniques).
Third week, we will be popping the FEMA G0290/0291 Basic PIO and JIC/JIS course with one of my favorite FEMA DSASers…Sister Michael!
Fourth week, I will be presenting at the 2019 National Preparedness Symposium at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Alabama.
And the last week is the full set of FEMA Basic PIO and JIC/JIS Course at Aurora Police.
If you are calculating that out, that’s 128 hours of straight classroom time.
Fortunately, I enhanced the playlist this past weekend.
Headphones in, affirm the mission and objectives, head down…No time for rest.
#MediaMinutes interview w/ RTV6 Paris Lewbel
As part of our ongoing efforts to help enhance the skills of the PIO, here’s another #MediaMinutes interview w/ RTV6 Paris Lewbel.
For more information on Paris:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/plewbel
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plewbel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plewbel/
Almost Friday folks….you can do it!
FEMA Basic PIO – day 2 with media!
Day-2 of the FEMA Basic PIO course here at DuPage County OHSEM and I wanted to pay my respects…..I mean focus in a bit on press releases.
While just one tool in the tool box, press releases were the primary way to get the info out to media partners about 15 years ago.
Yes, don’t ask. I remember writing my first press release. And no, it wasn’t good.
I am old AF.
However, we wanted to share the dangers of writing bad press releases…so I opted to share one of my favorite ones from Cleveland.
Thanks LeBron.
Mid-morning stop as we open our class up for our media panel.
(L to R)
Daily Herald (@dailyherald) Justin Kmitch (@JustinKmitchDH)
NBC Chicago (@NBCChicago) Chris Coffey (@ChrisCoffeyNBC)
WGN News (@WGNNews) Shannon Halligan (@ShanHalligan)
Lots of discussion including field PIO questions, staging areas, no comment, availability, and of course the dreaded “off the record” conversation. These kinds of conversations are incredibly important as we continue to network with others and enhance our relationships with our partners in the media. Also tweeting from the front of the class is totally acceptable too.
We also had some discussion about the outstanding work that the Aurora Police Department did during their active shooter incident in February. Kudos to all involved including the six new Police PIOs who were immediately pressed into service on their first day of being PIOs.
Literally “Learn it today, use it this afternoon.”
I’ve heard some great panel discussions, but the straight forward information in this panel was refreshing and honest.
I even pressed – if a PIO says to you “No comment” how does that make you feel? Justin’s comment was poignant and worth hearing.
Stay tuned for that interview to be published on #MediaMinutes.
We closed out the day reviewing the interviews and had solid conversations around social media.
Special thanks to our Media Panel guests from the media,
Outstanding class with all our participants!
ICS for Executives/Senior Officials
What a morning as we kick off the FEMA ICS-402: ICS for Executives/Senior Officials!
Even got a rare class visit from Director Snow on the start today.
Suit up as we continue to explain the need for ICS and share the values a coordinated response. And yes, if you are going to ask, I once created an IAP thiiiiiiis big… 
Proud to have leadership from various organizations including our own DuPage County Board Members Dawn DeSart and Sheila Rutledge.
Great class and looking forward to more with our partners.
Where is @rusnivek? 