Final week of 2018 FEMA Master PIO class at EMI.
Looking forward to seeing my cohort again and finishing up and defending our paper to the leadership staff at FEMA.
Man, I better concentrate!
Day-3 of the Advanced PIO course and today, we see some structure!
No doubt there was going to be some stuff on ICS forms because we got some…
…ICS-215s forms for the win!
And of course more interviews because evacuation and shelter information is super important. So bring on the interviews!
And yes, it’s not easy being green!
BTW-human with pet sheltering is totes important so make sure you know exactly what kind of message you want to pass on.
Lots of work on camera esp focusing in on joint press conferences…
…and of course solid reporter questions too.
#WeWearPinkOnWednesdays
At the end of the class, MPIOs initiated a panel discussion with Rita and I on public information.
PC: Joe
Yep, an unfiltered look into PIO stuff for anyone. We as PIOs should not remain silent.
I am convinced that we are to share knowledge and enhance other PIO’s skills. Because “a rising tide raises all ships” right?
Reporting live from the External Affairs side of the house at the Emergency Management Institute…
Starting out the Advanced PIO class week with the big cheese – a warm EMI welcome from the new FEMA EMI Deputy Superintendent Steve Heidecker!
My buddy!
Phil laying down the usual ground rules like…
And yes, today, I was fortunate enough to introduce my favorite Indianapolis Fire Department Batt Chief/PIO Extraordinaire….Ladies and Gents….put your hands together for BC Rita Reith!!!!!
Glad to see so many of my former students come here to FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute for more training. And they get to hear my same PIO instructor jokes again.
PC: Cody McDonell
And great to meet so many of online peeps for the very first time aka #IRL. Yes of course there will be lots of tweeting and #hastagging going on this week.
You in my class? Holla yo!
Reporting live from FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute’s Advanced Public Information Officers class…
Day-1 of the 2018 FEMA Master PIO (Public Information Officer) Program.
Obv at my favorite location: FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute.
Lots of super smart people in class from across the country including South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Maryland, Deleware, Texas, Indiana, Arizona, and Alaska. Whoa Nellie!
Solid discussion on public information, public involvement, strategic thinking, mission/goals, priorities, capabilities, solutions, communities vs tribes, NIMS/ICS, ESF-15, alert notification thresholds, trusted source of verified information, serotonin, public fears in 2017, hope, trust, stability, compassion, and most importantly, PIO networking/sharing of ideas.
Glad I wore a tie.
Apparently they know I tweet so shhhhhh. I have to pay attention.
Reporting live from snowy Emmitsburg….
When major disasters strike, many local communities lose the ability to communicate.
Whether hardline communications, cellular service, or data – communications is the life blood of any public safety initiative.
So vehicles like FEMA’s MCOVs and IRVs provide a great service re-establishing disaster communications for areas who have nothing.
MCOV: Mobile Communications Office Vehicle
IRV: Incident Response Vehicle
Several vehicles like this are currently deployed out supporting various missions now.
Fun fact, did you know these types of vehicles are
Everything about disaster response isn’t easy. I continue to share that logistics make the world go round.
No matter what kind of family pet you have, please make sure when you evacuate that you take your pets with you!
Evacuating? Fur sure take your pets w/ you & bring their pet emergency preparedness kit that has food + water + meds + IDs #NatlPrep
Your plan should identify specific shelters that can shelter your pets. Big or small!
Also, if your pet is soaked because of the rain, that’s not fun. So keep an extra pet rain coat handy too.High viz is extra awesome too.
Need a few more ideas for your pet preparedness kit? My pet preparedness kit includes a 3×5 notecard with
More tips can be found online for your pet preparedness plan at www.ready.gov/pets.
KacyTheDog approves your preparedness efforts too!
All PreparednessPups agree – Don’t get licked by poor planning.
#PlanAhead today!
For my Emergency Management Pros – have you done your continuity planning yet?
What? You don’t have a backup Emergency Operations Center?!?
Let me help you for free: Sports-type restaurants can easily double as an Emergency Operations Center.
Oh schnikies – he’s right!
Remember on September 11th, FDNY had to move their EOC multiple times because of increased hazards, inaccessibility, and debris?
More planning? Any of the FEMA credentialed Master Continuity Practitioners can help you out…like me.
Likely this could be a good alternate to any Emergency Operations Center right? Large parking lot, ability to provide food, bathrooms, etc….all the stuff we need.
So yes, if you are short on funding, consider identifying a few neighborhood sports restaurants as backup emergency operations centers in your AOR and mutual aid districts/regions.
Where is @rusnivek? 