Another interview as we talk about preparedness. This week is severe weather awareness week in Illinois.
PIO here….working with the Springfield news to feature IEMA-OHS Deputy Director Clayton Kuetemeyer.
Making sure everyone is prepared is key to safety.
Illinois has had some severe weather lately so I am glad that our media partners are in it to win it too.
Just glad to hang with the crew from WICS today in Springfield.
Reporting live from the SEOC…
Starting out the morning with all the Big City Emergency Managers at Chicago OEMC’s Emergency Operations Center.
First up, IEMA-OHS Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau.
Sharing the challenges of Emergency Management and focusing in on statewide issues. Overcoming challenges and strengthening Federal relationships is key especially in the first few hours of a disaster.
Initial response will dictate the disaster tempo. If your tempo is off and your battle rhythm is askew, you will likely become another disaster. So please make sure your efforts are coordinated.
Diving deep into overcoming resources challenges early on so that we can serve our diverse communities.
Special thanks to all the rising stars in the 2025 Big City Emergency Managers Program.
More interviews during our Damage Assistance process. Today, we’re in Rockford (Winnebago County).
It’s just three letters. That’s it.
C’mon.
Another interview with Fox32Chicago.
Glad to have such positive relationships with our local media in Chicago.
Reporting live from the field….
As I get acclimated into the role, I am finding all kinds of great things with our partners.
One of them, NWS-St. Louis seems to be a bunch of Star Wars fans.
Definitely enjoy seeing this kind of engagement.
#Hoth
Walking into my Chicago office and look who I’m following in…
Lordy. What is happening?!?!?
Welp, I signed up for this so let’s see what I got.
PIO onscene!
Reporting live from the Thompson Center
Long storied history of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
My boss, Director and Homeland Security Advisor Alicia Tate-Nadeau is the first female to lead the agency.
Long list of directors from all walks of life…and all parts of Illinois.
Incidentally, Alicia Tate-Nadeau is the first female one-star general from Illinois.
Outstanding crew so far.
Long hours, but thankful to lead the PIO effort here in Illinois.
I even got an L-shaped desk!
Seems kinda empty now…and I gotta get more monitors too.
Either way, happy to be part of the team.
Reporting in from my 1960s desk…
Roaring start today as we roll into day-2!
Early bird gets the worm right?
Ready to start briefing. Thank goodness for outgoing PIO Rebecca Clark.
Rebecca has transitioned to lead the state’s effort with the fairs in Springfield and also the DuQuoin State Fair.
First week, taking it all in at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).
So much to learn as Illinois does things a bit different. Nothing bad, just gotta get used to the new action(s).
Glad to be part of the senior staff here at IEMA.
Reporting live from the State Emergency Operations Center in beautiful Springfield, Illinois….
Finally getting around to turning on dark mode in Facebook.
Don’t worry, Twitter has had this since forever ago.
Still dislike Facebook as a social media platform citing algorithm.
Where is @rusnivek? 