Another great Ohio EMA Basic #PIO course at Independence Fire

Great Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) class with so many brand new Public Information Officers (PIOs).


Special thanks to Fire Chief Steve Rega and Assistant Fire Chief Wheeler and all of Independence Fire for hosting this great all-hazard course.


Oh you know me. Just doing my share reppin Ohio EMA…


…in helping everyone understand EOC Operations and the importance of a Joint Information Center (JIC) that regularly engages on social media.


Additionally, I love pushing the classic Emergency Management mantra of getting everyone to work together BEFORE an incident is a hallmark of sucess.


Bonus, I got to hang with one of my favorite PIOs – Erica Creech (aka Mama PIO)!


I can’t wait to work with so many of you in the near future.

@rusnivek

State of Ohio EMA new Joint Information Center class in #SummitCounty #JIC #JIS #PIO #ESF15

Rolling out the State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency‘s new G0291: Joint Information Centers (JIC) / Joint Information System (JIS) Planning for Tribal, state, and Local PIOs. Luckily, we were in the Command and Control room at the Summit County Health Department.

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Command Control room…aka DOC

As always, its great teaching with Sister Michael Marie. Outstanding experiences and great stories from her international work in challenging areas of the world.

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Even OEMA was checking in on our progress!

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#truelove for us Emergency Management Instructors.

Sister Michael showcased the importance of all-hazard PIO involvement in emergency response to a natural hazard.

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Everyone was able to share experiences and help each other improve – esp thinking outside the box on various scenarios.

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By the end of this in-class activity, our participants realized that there are so many parts to a “simple disaster” that it pays to build partnerships early.

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It’s all hands working in an emergency – so build your relationships early before a disaster.

Remember: At 0300, you ugly, you smell, you stink – and clearly that’s not the best time to meet new people and to function in an emergency at 110%.

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“As Emergency Management, we must continue to nurture solid working relationships and common response/recovery objectives with our all-hazards partners in public safety.” – @rusnivek

Best part? At the end of the class, they all applauded.

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Awwww yeah!

ysss

When was the last time a class applauded your Emergency Management NIMS ICS compliant class?

Heh.

As always, it’s great to teach with OEMA Instructor and consummate professional Sister Michael Marie.

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There is so much going on in this picture. I can’t even.

I’m just glad to be a part of something big.

@rusnivek

Day-2 of Ohio EMA Basic Public Information Officer Course in #SummitCounty

Second day of the State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency‘s Basic Public Information Officer’s Course in Summit County.

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Lots of discussion on the changes in public information especially with the use of social media in the 24-hour news cycle. #OMG

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We were fortunate enough to hear from WKYC Reporter Jasmine Monroe and Videographer Carl Bachtel (NBC News affiliate) on what the media needs once they arrive on scene. Great insight to breaking news and media notifications.

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Special thanks to WKYC’s Jasmine Monroe and Carl Bachtel.

As a class, we reviewed all media interviews and shared positives and points to improve – all geared toward enhancing PIO interview skills.

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Reviewing the on camera interview with Twinsburg Lt. Marcus Ketner.

The final activity we broke into various PIO sections. This included an on-camera interview with talking points and bridging.

Interviews

Jim McIntyre interviewing Elizabeth Foster while Mark Shane handles the videographer duties in the final G0290 classroom activity.

Great way to showcase newly acquired skills!

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Jim McIntyre interviewing Elizabeth Foster for the final G0290 classroom activity

At the end of the day, I had a few moments to play our little holiday project aka #CJSavesCLE – just to showcase the power of when PIOs work with local media to make a wish come true for a day.

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#CJSavesCLE

Solid day with so many new peeps!

Tomorrow will be G-291 Joint Information Center stuff! #excited

@rusnivek

April 2016 was solid, but it’s gonna be May

April 2016 was solid, but it’s gonna be May…..

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Instructors Kevin Sur and Justin Timberlake. Heh.

First week, I will be instructing FEMA’s National Emergency Management Executive Academy Program at EMI specifically on Crisis Communications, Public Information Officer, and Social Media. Then heading back to Ohio to teach a basic Public Information Officer’s Course and Joint Information Center/System course (G-290/291) in Summit County. R3 and R5 = Twofer in just the first week!

Second week, I will head back north to Michigan to teach social media at Michigan State University. Then the last half of the week spent in Chicago for meetings with various public safety officials including Chicago Fire.

Third week, we have a State of Ohio Emergency Management Instructors’ Workshop at Ohio EMA in Columbus. Good chance to chat and share successes with our staff – who are all good stewards of Emergency Management. Cbus baby!

Fourth week, I will be instructing in the big DHS/FEMA 2016 National Training and Exercise Symposium at EMI. Whohoo!!! Hoping to catch up to Brian Kamoie and Doc Lumpkins again. Then jetting off to Nebraska to teach Social Media and Crisis Communications in the statewide CPESymposia. R3 and R7 in the hizzouse!

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Yep, it’s a 3-5-7 kinda month – A big month indeed.

@rusnivek

 

#CJSavesCLE gets nominated for an Emmy!

Super proud to see our little 2015 Christmas project #CJSavesCLE get nominated for an Emmy!

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Check out the Fox8 story here.

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Cleveland Police, Cleveland FBI, A Special Wish Foundation, led the charge. But so many public safety agencies and officials that made this day possible.

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I can’t thank them enough. All the planning was totally worth it.

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CJ – still such a cool dude!

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Many mahalos to my friend and fellow CPD Public Information Officer Sgt Jen Ciaccia.

@rusnivek

 

Programming my new national weather service radio

Saturday Training: New National Weather Service portable Radio for rapid evacuation.

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Along with the correct frequency, don’t forget to program the exact SAME code so that you can get county specific information

If you live in NE Ohio, you can find your frequency and SAME code here.

Always #SafetySur

@rusnivek

P.S. This is my third weather radio as I already have a desk version and another portable.

Only three in April right?

April has arrived like a wrecking ball, so sorry about the 7-day delay in posting my April schedule.

First week, I’ll be getting back from instructing in Colorado (Region-8). Also, I’m launching my own clothing line. Heh.

Second week, I’ll be teaching social media in Cincinnati at the Regional Operations Center aka TheROC (Region-5).

Third week, I’ll be in Nebraska presenting on social media and crisis communications (Region-7).

Fourth week, I’ll be in Michigan supporting the US Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety Canada with a bunch of seminars, a few EOC workshops, and then culminating with a TableTop Exercise (TTE). Bring your best ICS forms because we are repping the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) action in the hizzouse! (Region-5).

Fifth week is still not exactly defined. Likely, I will be in a “ready status” #mylife amiright?

Also, I am hoping that April gets warmer too.

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@rusnivek