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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

JIS – JIC planning class for Tribal State and local PIOs

Posted on July 17, 2015 by rusnivek

A fine day to teach the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s JIS / JIC Planning for Tribal, State, and Local PIOs (G-291) course in Medina County!

A classic start with The Who.

One of the big points emphasized in this class is the differences between a Joint Information Center (JIC) and a Joint Information System (JIS). Both have merits in daily operations and each have strengths and weaknesses in disaster operations.

Sometimes PIOs don’t understand that a JIC or JIS activation is just like a normal activation. If you can’t figure out the differences between the two, take the class from those who have actually worked a JIC or a JIS.

On Tuesday/Wednesday in the Basic Public Information Officers’ Course (G-290), we talked about training and readiness efforts for any PIO. Go Kits were a hot button topic as everyone’s PIO kit would most likely be different. Resource manuals are great to have, but difficult to keep updated. Just maintaining a PIO contact list is a tedious task.

Much discussion about food in the kit. This was obviously NOT a good example of what you should be eating during an JIC activation.

Prob not the best lunch.

Healthy body = Healthy mind. Period.

As the day progressed, we facilitated several in-depth discussions on teamwork, joint efforts in responses as well as some pre-scripted messages that can be used by everyone. Planning now will reduce the amount of white hair during an incident.

Establish relationships now with local health departments, local and regional hospitals, local Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Teams, Special Technical Rescue Teams. Easily rely on your state staff and resources to support your actions. A great wealth of information is available to bring to the table. Just establish that connection before that awkward 0300 hit.

Additionally, tapping into local resources from other Federal Agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives(ATF), National Weather Service (NWS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs Border Patrol (CBP), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), etc…so many options to establish relationships!

“Building relationships now can only increase our response effectiveness during a disaster.” – K. Sur

Looking outside government agencies, public and private partnerships can support our safety and response initiatives – so we need to make a concerted effort to make those connections now. Build relationships before a disaster!

Sur and Mo!

So how can you bring all these resources together? Consider these actions to explore in your jurisdiction:

Train. Train. Train.
Open discussions with various providers.
Invite your all-hazards partners to meetings.
Meet regularly. Maintain contact.
Take classes together.
Share resource lists and contacts.
Support each other during operations.
Review After Action Reviews / Improvement Plans (AARs/IPs) together.

And if you were wondering, class participants did well on their post-tests.

Psssst…the answer is “C” #not

We had a great time teaching this week. Much thanks to the Medina County Emergency Management Agency and EM Director Christine Fozio for their hospitality. Super fun time.

So much ducking fun (duck face reference)

Special thanks to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency for sponsoring this all-hazards class for our partners in public safety.

(L to R): PIO Instructor Kevin Sur, Medina County Emergency Management Director Christine Fozio, and PIO Instructor Monique Witherspoon.

If you are looking to attend OEMA’s free PIO courses:

Public Information Officers Awareness course (G-289)
Basic Public Information Officers’ course (G-290)
JIS / JIC Planning for Tribal, State, and Local PIOs course (G-291)

**coordinate through OEMA State Training Officer Susan Traylor.

As always, I’m looking forward to the JIC / JIS activation calls. I am excited for these new PIOs to put their new acquired PIO skillz in place. And yes, I said skillz with a Z.

Time is short so do good stuff!

@rusnivek

Final day of instructing Ohio EMA’s Basic Public Information Officers Course

Posted on July 16, 2015 by rusnivek

Final day of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s Basic Public Information Officer Course (G-290). Kaboom!

Before class started, we pumped a little Billy Joel through the ECC&C speakers.

We talked about what kind of information needs to be disseminated including categorizing messages by priority. Obviously, we discussed various social media platforms and a few publishing options to maximize visibility.

Basically, it still comes down to maximizing our efforts during a disaster or emergency.

Working in groups, all participants formulated action items to implement at their agencies. Incidentally, this is truly the reason why so many ICS classes exercise in groups…is to help facilitate open dialogue. Building relationships is easier in an open classroom setting.

And yes, 0300 is NOT the time to be meeting fellow public safety professionals for the first time in the EOC.

As a group, we evaluated everyone’s TV PIO interview.

Everyone shared constructive recommendations with the entire class. Everyone.

In fact, the private industry crew really enjoyed the training and wanted to work/train more closely with various public safety agencies (Hmmmm, I sense this could be the start of a public-private-partnerships-EEEK).

In the end, more group work and a secondary interview helped participants to become more comfortable in front of the camera.

Additionally, non-verbal actions including certain physical cues were shared to help PIOs take back control from an aggressive reporter and take control of the interview.

Remember, the important point to remember is….

Reporting live from FEMA Region-5, at the Medina County Emergency Coordination Center & Classroom…

@rusnivek

Teaching Ohio EMA’s Basic Public Information Officers Course

Posted on July 15, 2015 by rusnivek

First day of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s Public Information Officer Course (G-290). Whohoo!!!!

Welcome and intros today by OEMA NE Region Supervisor Bob Zehentbauer.

Bob Z kicking off today’s Ohio EMA Basic PIO course.

(Bob-Mahalos for the kind words)

Special thanks to Medina County Emergency Management Agency and Director Christina Fozio for hosting this great all-hazards class.

Medina County EMA Director Christine Fozio with the best hospitality in the EOC!

This class, our participants hail from various disciplines including Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, Hospitals, Prison officials, Private Industry, Health Department, and Higher Education.

So many experiences to share especially with all the EOC activations we had in the past 5 years here in NE Ohio. Castro case, Ebola, Pepper Pike Tornado, Flooding, Operations Barclay, Hurricane Sandy, etc…all are great experiences that we as instructors can share our experiences with our participants.

I believe the best part about the G-290 course? The on-camera interviews for everyone.

One camera for face, one camera for body language, and a tricky “reporter” asking questions.

Many instructors shy away from this task because they don’t have the time, experience, or even the equipment. However, I believe that it is imperative we have these tools that simulate real-life situations. We as instructors should provide the most realistic examples of in-field experiences for all participants.

For those attending, we will never compromise. We will always provide the best class.

Period.

@rusnivek

Merick named Executive Director of Ohio Emergency Management Agency #OEMA

Posted on June 10, 2015 by rusnivek

Sima Merick was named as the Executive Director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

Previous Executive Director Evan Schumann now serves as the Deputy Director of OEMA.

The primary mission of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency is to coordinate activities to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. This mission is carried out by closely interfacing with local, state and federal agencies in an effort to bring resources of recovery and support to Ohioans impacted by the disaster. In addition to disaster response and recovery, Ohio EMA agency activities include: education, training, planning and preparedness – strengthening Ohio’s first responder capabilities and improving communication across the state.
@rusnivek

June 2015 and my first visit to Region-8

Posted on June 5, 2015 by rusnivek

June will be a lighter schedule as I wind down on a few projects.

First week: I’ll be at the OEMA Basic Public Information Officers course including the JIC/JIS part. On camera interviews for everyone! (Region-5)

Second week: I am assigned to South Dakoka. My first time in FEMA Region-8 baby!

Third week: I will be in Florida (Region-4) piloting FEMA/NDPTC new social media presentation.

Fourth week: I’ll be back in Ohio and I *might* be working in an EOC or a field ICP.

Quieter month huh?

@rusnivek

OEMA Basic Public Information Officer training – camera time!

Posted on June 4, 2015 by rusnivek

Aside from the great classroom learning and building of networks, the on camera interviews are always hard to prep.

Our Basic Public Information Officers Course helps those who have NEVER been in front of a camera, actually see themselves.

We do on-camera interviews. Yep. Camera time! Members from local Fire Departments participated.

This included Chief Fire Officers from the suburbs too.

Agents from the ATF spoke very well.

Staff from USCG District 9 in Buffalo.

And of course members from the local law enforcement too.

Classroom critiques are always difficult to watch, but that kind of constructive evaluation helps those PIOs become better communications professionals.

I encourage all PIOs and PAOs to train regularly in front of a camera.

Special thanks to former WKYC reporter Kristin Anderson on her input too.

Never know when the local media will need a statement of your ongoing operations.

Looking forward to the next OEMA PIO Course!

@rusnivek

Today’s Basic PIO class today in Ohio

Posted on June 3, 2015 by rusnivek

Great Basic Public Information Officers course here in Ohio.

Lots of great interactions in class.

Additionally great networking!

Can’t wait for tomorrow’s on-camera interviews!

@rusnivek

2015 Ohio EMA Emergency Management Director’s Conference

Posted on April 16, 2015 by rusnivek

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency 2015 EM Director’s Conference has started in Columbus.

Looks like all 88 counties are here ready to collaborate on a multiple topics and challenges.

We also had the FEMA Region-5 Administrator Andrew Velasquez III address the audience.

Also SM luminary and friend Cheryl Bledsoe presented on VOST (Virtual Operation Support Teams).

Great to see so many old friends!

@rusnivek

Teaching in the State of Ohio EOC today

Posted on February 19, 2015 by rusnivek

Good to have Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) Assistant Director Sima Merick and OEMA Deputy Director Russ Decker welcome our PIO/SM class today at the state EOC.

After lunch, OEMA Public Information Officer (PIO) Jay Carey brief our attending PIOs here in the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Working the PIO magic!

@rusnivek

New Ohio EMA Director named

Posted on January 8, 2015 by rusnivek

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2015

Contact: Joe Andrews, ODPS Communications Director, (614) 466-4344

NEW OHIO EMA DIRECTOR NAMED

(COLUMBUS) – Evan W. Schumann was named Executive Director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA) today by Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) Director John Born. He will replace Sima Merick who was named interim director in December.

Mr. Schumann is currently the Program Manager for Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1) which is the State of Ohio’s Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force stationed in Dayton and also one of the 28 US&R Task Forces in FEMA’s National US&R System. Under Mr. Schumann’s leadership, OH-TF1 personnel have responded to many disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the Haiti earthquake, mudslides in Washington and flooding in Colorado. Mr. Schumann is well versed in all aspects of state and national emergency management systems.

“The State of Ohio is fortunate to be able to find an emergency management professional with Mr. Schumann’s qualifications here in our own state,” said ODPS Director John Born. “I look forward to working with him to make the state safer for all Ohioans.”

Among his duties, Mr. Schumann will be furthering the implementation of ODPS’s 4/72 Project that provides basic life needs for people impacted by a disaster within four hours of the incident and sustainable for 72 hours. He will also work with the Safer Ohio Teams concept to coordinate emergency response by local and state responders.

Mr. Schumann holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Norwich University and Bachelor and Master Degrees in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University.

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency is the state’s coordinating agency for emergency response throughout the state. In the event of an emergency anywhere in the state, EMA can assemble state agencies at its headquarters near Columbus and coordinate assets available through these agencies in order to get supplies, personnel and equipment where it is needed in a timely manner.

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