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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

Support your local first responders #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon

Posted on September 12, 2016 by rusnivek

Third solid week of 2016 National Preparedness Month! This week, we honor and celebrate all of our all-hazards first responder who serve tirelessly throughout the country.

Every day, thousands of first responders (paid and volunteer) put it all on the line for the general public we know and people we don’t know. Day or night, countless individuals respond to the call and make a difference in each community.

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In your community, support your local Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement agencies as they work tirelessly to provide safety for all communities big and small.

“Don’t wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.”

@rusnivek

Sharing preparedness tips with PIOs across the country #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon

Posted on September 2, 2016 by rusnivek

I frequently present to Public Information Officers / Public Affairs Officers (PIOs & PAOs) across the country and talk extensively about preparedness.

For those that were wondering about the class attire, many of my classes get scheduled on a Friday aka #AlohaFriday

Proud to say that so many of them love the job and enjoy sharing ways to increase safety in all communities with FEMA’s Ready.Gov Program.

Your local Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Management agencies are a great starting point for preparedness activities. Then all state safety agencies and Federal partners cooperate top down with many key organizations across the country.

That’s right. Local works with state works with regional works with national.

Happy #AlohaFriday peeps!

“Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.”

@rusnivek

PIO Tip: Frame your shot and reduce your onscene variables

Posted on August 16, 2016 by rusnivek

I was finishing up my AARs and found a picture from the last night of the Republican National Convention (RNC).

Quick tip for you PIOs doing field reporting: Frame your shot.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams doing an interview with Time Magazine. Obvious chalked roadway with profane statement behind him. Videographer is recording at an upward angle to frame his subject.

During the RNC, we found that it was critical to frame the shot. Onscene shots were particularly tough because so many activist groups had signs, chalked, or painted words that are inappropriate for pictures or even worse yet, uncontrolled live broadcast hits (Periscope or FacebookLive or YouTubeLive).

Additionally, live outdoor broadcasts from the scene are challenging because it is difficult to control the natural and man-made variables.

So as PIOs we need to reduce any signs, ropes, wires, etc….that could affect your framed shot.

Trust me, reduce the amount of variables to a bare minimum.

Focus your energy in delivering your message. #PIO

@rusnivek

PIO-ing Cleveland’s Public Square during #PrideInTheCLE #ClevelandPride

Posted on August 14, 2016 by rusnivek

Yesterday, I supported Cleveland Police on the #PrideInTheCLE #ClevelandPride event in Public Square.

Much different from the Republican National Convention.

Lots of families out and about (and enjoying) the new cool fountain in downtown Cleveland.

Everyone was having a great time.

Lots of speculation and talk about public safety not being around to support the LGBT community – all totally false. Public Safety will be there to support any community.

Trust me, lots of public safety was on hand to support our entire community.

Cleveland Police Bomb Squad and K9 teams…

Cleveland EMS…

..even the Cleveland Police bike patrol was out supporting the day’s events.

Lots of areas to cover.

Partnerships with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department and Cleveland Police Department are key in providing safety for everyone who attended the event.

It was a relatively hot day so I am glad that many of the participants dressed appropriately for the event.

Some not so much.

Fun entertainment and friendly people staying cool out in Public Square.

While waiting around, we had some time for a quick PIO selfie…

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Also had time for a few interviews with local media.

Also happy to run into a long time good friend Mark Zinni who is the anchor for the Channel 3 Eyewitness News in Hartford, Connecticut. Great to see him again.

Thanks for the picture Zinni!

Can’t wait to see him again in Cleveland.

While out there, we even made a few new peeps into Junior Police Officers.

Thanks Ken!

We were fortunate enough to do a few live interviews on Periscope from Public Square.

We highlighted the event and gave a status report of the operations using Periscope.

Ever wonder what it’s like to hang with onscene PIOs? Here’s a behind the scenes shot of us doing some live interviews on Periscope.

Thanks for the action shot Zinni!

Trust me, it’s harder than it looks.

Overall, it was great to see so many people out on a Saturday afternoon in Cleveland.

As always, I had a great time working the PIO magic with Jen!

We make a pretty good team huh?

Hope everyone stayed dry while the rain hit.

Great safe event everyone!

Have a great weekend!

@rusnivek

This week’s PIO magic from #RNCINFO #RNC2016 #RNCinCLE #GOPConvention

Posted on July 19, 2016 by rusnivek

This week doing PIO stuff with Cleveland Police Sgt Ciaccia.

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You know…just working all the PIO magic tricks!

@rusnivek

Showcasing some of the specialty teams in play for the upcoming RNC #RNCINFO

Posted on July 15, 2016 by rusnivek

Press event yesterday morning to showcase all the equipment and teams that could be utilized and deployed out for next week’s Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland.

Cleveland Police Sgt Jen Ciaccia lead the effort that started at 0600.

After events in Dallas, the bomb robot was of great interest to everyone.

If you take the time to understand the technology, this is an invaluable piece of equipment to any police department.

Some reporters wanted to try to wear the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) suits.

NBC Nightly News Correspondent Jacob Rascon even hoped on the Mounted Unit to see what it was like to ride above the crowds.

Nice guy.

Don’t worry, Cleveland Police’s Mounted Unit doesn’t j-walk…

…like you, they use the cross walk.

Bike patrol officers from across the state including Blue Ash Police and Akron Police were out running training throughout the city.

It’s great to have so many law enforcement agencies working together to ensure safety for all participants.

Additionally, lots of pros working behind the scenes making magic happen.

Proud to have a so many Public Information Officers (PIOs) working together in the Cleveland Joint Information Center (JIC).

Looking forward to more fun tomorrow.

And yes, it’s t-minus 3 days…

@rusnivek

This kind of parking is unacceptable #Chicago #Fire #Police

Posted on July 9, 2016 by rusnivek

One thing that bothers me is idiots who park in front of a hydrant.

Not like 30-seconds, but more like hours and hours and hours.

THIS IS A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR SAFETY!

So I called my friends at Chicago Fire Engine-35, Truck-28, Ambulance-62, Battalion-17 who advised that I call Chicago Police and inform them.

So I did. Chicago Police promptly showed up and ticketed the car. #booya

Hey Jagoff – enjoy your $150 ticket #0964100A (Within 15′ of fire hydrant).

Then a tow truck (hook) showed up and made my night because….

…I now have full hydrant access again.

Hey Jagoff! Now enjoy your $150 charge for towing your vehicle and $20 storage fee.

Expensive night out for your blatant disregard of public safety. Hope it was worth it.

Friendly reminder to anyone: Don’t park in front of fire hydrants. Ever.

@rusnivek

During an emergency, amplify official information

Posted on July 9, 2016 by rusnivek

We talk a ton about people who carelessly retweet, share, and re-purpose information. Whether mis-informed or attention seeking whores, it is likely that people need a bit more digital responsibility on line esp w/ social media.

Part of me thinks that min-informed people don’t believe in the power of social media.

Seasoned PIOs know the potential of social media.

However, check out the tweet from Mountain View Police Department’s Capt Chris Hsiung re: Dallas Police Department.

Well said Capt Hsiung.

I encourage many in my classes to be good stewards of information and not to skew truth as it can only delay the root cause from others. We will not be led astray or swayed by sensational tweets, posts, etc…We must rely on straight facts and truth.

@rusnivek

My Dad started his Neighborhood Watch Program!

Posted on June 27, 2016 by rusnivek

I’m proud of my Dad who setup his Neighborhood Watch Program.

Dad has been planning this for months now and even posted signs to get everyone involved. Because inviting and talking with the entire neighborhood about safety related topics are the key points of the Neighborhood Watch program. Also, my Dad went big – he blocked off the entire cul-de-sac for his event!

Honolulu Fire Station-30 (Engine-30 & Ladder-30) stopped by to share some safety tips and what to do during an emergency.

Ladder-30 showcased their equipment for everyone to see.

Talked about ventilation saws for trench cuts and vertical cuts for fires.

Also talked about extrication tools and generators for car accidents and confined space rescue.

All the kids in the neighborhood got a chance to try out the headsets used for communications in the apparatus.

Honolulu Police stopped by too.

Even a surprise flyby thanks to Honolulu Fire Air-1 Helicopter.

In the end, this kind of neighborhood program is truly the basis of a safer community.

Education, particularly teaching kids during an emergency, how to call 9-1-1 is crucial to a safe community.

My Dad volunteered to do this. Yep, not paid. Just doing his part to keep his neighborhood and community safe. LOVE IT!

There are many other volunteer programs showcased by DHS/FEMA’s awesome Ready.Gov campaign on safety. Just like my Dad, I volunteer too with my community’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) aka RH-CERT.

Whether you are a part of your own Neighborhood Watch Program, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Volunteers in Police Service (ViPS), Medical Reserve Corp (MRC), Fire Corps, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs), etc…all of these civic based programs are so important to the fabric for the safety of our community across this great country.

So proud of my Dad!

@rusnivek

Lots of players in service for the 2016 NBA Champions – The Cleveland Cavaliers!

Posted on June 22, 2016 by rusnivek

Big parade today for the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers the NBA Champions!

Early in the morning, the east side Rapid lines appeared to have 1,500 at the end terminals snaking across parking lots in Van Aken Blvd Plaza.

On the west side, people started walking in strange places around the airport. That’s not the best idea. And no, that’s not a sidewalk there.

Abandoning your car at the cell phone lot isn’t a good idea.

Parking was full to the gills. People were very creative in parking and riding into downtown.

Inside the terminal, lines resembled Disneyland style waits. Line was snaked down into the entrance of Rapid entry…

…then lines continued through baggage claim and out past the rental car pickup line. Likely a solid 1,600 waiting to get on the Rapid there.

Good time to remind everyone “If you see something, say something” – DHS

Deep inside the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), many people were working hard to keep everything organized and provide information to those teams deployed out in the field.

Trust me, lots of teams were deployed out and ready for immediate action.

I am especially Proud of Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire, and Cleveland EMS who did their best with the estimated 1.3 million spectators who came into town to witness history and just “hang out”.

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To those 45 families who lost their children during this event, public safety forces worked well together to shelter your kids and protect them from dangers.

Congrats to the Cleveland Cavaliers in their 2016 NBA Championship.

Hope to do it again next year.

@rusnivek