Tomorrow is the start of… #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon

Tomorrow is the start of the 2016 National Preparedness Month. MY FAVORITE MONTH!

ysss

For those in public safety, this is an incredibly important month where we highlight preparedness efforts for all of our personnel and general public.

FEMANPM2016_logo_vFinal_medium

If you’ve sat in any of my classes before, you know that I am passionate about sharing the message of preparedness.

photo

Lots of big plans including a special trip to Washington DC. Details to follow.

IMG_6324

What the what?

IMG_4938

Hi Craig-You know I double-checked my emergency preparedness kit. #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon

Everyone is participating. Everyone.

So I hope you join all of us in this national effort and participate because your friends and family look to you for good preparedness information.

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

@rusnivek

Gifs for preparedness #SafetyFacts #NatlPrep 

Awwww yeah! Using gifs for preparedness?


Yaaaasssssssss! #winning

But then this happened:

Holey moley! It’s a good day when FEMA’s @ReadyGov RTs me and @PrepareAthon loves my gifs. #swoon

hom

Now use your new social media powers for good.

Reporting live from the EOC…

@rusnivek

Everyone is ready with our 2015 #ShakeOut drill #NDPTC

Not going to lie, I love participating in national preparedness events with everyone.


No kidding, our entire class participated.

IMG_0499

My California peeps love preparedness!

Everyone!


Even though we are in the EOC, our participants know the importance of preparedness training.

IMG_0522

Preparing for the #CAEq – #ShakeOut

IMG_0525

Bonus points for the #ShakeOut selfie too!


Awww yeah.


Love this class!


Also so excited to see that DHS/FEMA’s Ready.Gov Program sharing our messages on social media.

IMG_0541

Woot-Woot!!!!

IMG_0534 - Copy

Thanks to everyone in today’s class at the Santa Clara County (CA) Emergency Operations Center!

@rusnivek

October has the big four: 3-9-5-NCAP #SURINDC

As National Preparedness Month closes, my October 2015 schedule is going to be very challenging. And as you know, I have to win. Here’s the plan:

First week: I’ll be in Carlisle, Pennsylvania presenting on Social Media in disasters. Pope out, Sur in! Glad to be back in Region-3.

Second week: I’ll be headed back to the Silicon Valley area presenting on social media specifically for large event planning and monitoring (because it’s all about the L right? Wait, it’s all about the 5-0 right?) I also hope to catch up to one of the VIPs at Intel. Since retiring from Emergency Management, his pro career intrigues me – so I believe some synergies could happen. Additionally, I get a chance to brainstorm with an extremely talented colleague from the NWS Sacramento office. I rant about “building relationships before an emergency” so I assure you that I am practicing what I preach. Love love LOVE me some Region-9!

Third week: I’ll be at Fairfield County (Ohio) Emergency Management Agency popping the G-290: Basic Public Information Officers Course and G-291: Joint Information Center / Joint Information System (JIC/JIS) courses. It will definitely be great to see my friend Director Kochis  and crews again – back in Region-5.

Fourth week: I’ll be presenting at FEMA HQ in Washington DC on social media. Yep, at the big house. OMG. This is a big presentation. Big. REALLY BIG. While at HQ, I am hoping to catch up with Lumpkins, Kamoie, FEMA’s Digital Engagement Team…and since we’re fresh off the heels of National Preparedness month grabbing a cup of coffee with my besties from ReadyGov and PrepareAthon. Love me some HQ preparedness action! Additionally, I am hoping to grab a few meetings with my friends at the Pentagon and NGA too. Special thanks to US Representative Fudge (OH-11) for some extra time with Congress and a stop at the White House. Yep. The White House. Again. #SURINDC NCAP region!

IMG_1909

It’s going to be a challenge month all October long.

Get it.

@rusnivek

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday has gone to the dogs! #NatlPrep #woof

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! It’s the last week of 2015 National Preparedness Month!

I hope you showcase your new preparedness actions this Wednesday September 30th on 2015 National Preparedness Day!

This morning, I double checked my dog’s (Kacy – my PreparednessPup) emergency preparedness kit. As you can see, I have partitioned her food in individual ziplock packages to make it easier for portion control during feeding time.

And you guessed it, there are at least 3 days of food.

img_7936

Having her own pet preparedness kit and making her carry it on her own if/when we have to evacuate will be a huge help.

ab1wiejcmaaimsg

Pet preparedness!!!!!

KacyTheDog

Master, I demand a rawhide for this NTED preparedness photo session.

For more information, check out the full details here.

Don’t wait. Communicate. Make your emergency plan today.

CKYhdyqUMAQdNj1

Don’t hesitate, be paw-sitively sure your pets are prepared.

Always be ready by clicking here!

@rusnivek

Are you serious? This is NOT Infinite power #NatlPrep #Power

This better not be your plan when the power goes out…

6007-590x444

One of the main reasons why people evacuate from the safety of their home is because they have no power source. For 2015 National Preparedness Month, here’s a few tips you can use before the power goes out:

  • Plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out.
  • Ensure you have extra compatible batteries for any device that can run on battery power (i.e., cell phones, portable phones, medical or assistive devices, radios).
  • Consider purchasing hand-crank and solar-powered chargers.
  • Consider extra USB port battery packs so you are able to charge various devices.
  • Extra charging cables – and make sure they are over 5 ft long.

Because no one likes a dead cell phone or portable device right?

Don’t wait. Communicate. Make your emergency plan today.

CKYhdyqUMAQdNj1

Plug into knowledge…and get better prepared today.

Be powered and Ready by starting here!

@rusnivek

Never turn on or use this indoors #NatlPrep

2015 National Preparedness Month – and yes, it’s still a week worth of good power safety tips!

Never use a generator, gasoline-powered equipment and tools, grill, camp stove, or charcoal burning device inside or in any partially enclosed area, including a basement or garage.

GeneratorDanger

Easy right? Use OUTSIDE!

Big or small…

PowerGenerator-TESB.png.2140364aa1e647c7d52595a5e89ae10a

…don’t forget to get your generator serviced regularly.

55554656

Or else this could happen.

cropped-1235 - Copy

Be careful!

Don’t wait. Communicate. Make your emergency plan today.

CKYhdyqUMAQdNj1

Knowledge is power…so share your power safety tips with everyone.

Be Ready by starting here!

@rusnivek

How frequent are hurricanes in the US? #NatlPrep #hurrycaine

Third Saturday in the 2015 National Preparedness Month! Last day/chance for hurricanes.

Do you want to have a better understanding of the hurricane risk you and your community face? Below is a map of the United States and the frequency of hurricane and tropical storm activity by county. Atlantic data dates back to 1851, while Pacific data includes storms since 1949.

hurricanemap750w

Map Information: This area is a map of the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Hawaii including state boundaries. It is entitled “Frequency of Hurricane and Tropical Storm Activity by County: 1851-2012”. It includes data from NOAA NHC HURDAT2 database; all classified hurricanes and tropical storms which made landfall within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico; paths by county within a 125 mile band of the center point, based on longitude. Atlantic data from 1851-2012, Pacific data from 1949-2012.Map Description: The frequency of hurricane and tropical storms are represented by a four point scale. The first group with the highest frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms includes between 65-141 occurrences of a hurricane or tropical storm. The area of states for this level of the scale includes the coastal edges of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware, as well as all of Florida. The second group with the second highest frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms includes between 29-64 occurrences of a hurricane or tropical storm. The area of states for this level includes inland portions of states in the first group, as well as Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhodes Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as all of Puerto Rico. The third group with the lowest frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms includes between 1-29 occurrences of a hurricane or tropical storm. This area of states covers a large portion of the United States, and extends from Vermont in the east to southern California in the west, and from central Texas in the south to all of Michigan in the north, as well as Hawaii. The last group in the scale represents no occurrences of a hurricane or tropical storm. This area of states covers all of Alaska, Washington state, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, all of Utah excluding the southwestern tip, and parts of California, Nevada, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin. In all about two-thirds of the US are within one of the first three frequency groups. Federal Emergency Management AgencyORR Mapping and Analysis Center, Washington, D.C., March 13, 2014. Sources: ESRI, USGS.

It’s only a matter of time before you are affected by a hurricane.

Don’t wait. Communicate. Make your emergency plan today.

CKYhdyqUMAQdNj1

#Hurrycaine Hurricanes are dangerousso get Ready by starting here

(#Hurrycaine <==get it?)

@rusnivek

Double checking my weather radio for #NatlPrep #Hurricane

Peeking into the third week of National Preparedness Month – this week is all about Hurricanes!

So to make sure we are all prepared, I double checked my weather radio yesterday.

weatherradiocheck

I’m Ready!

If you live in Ohio, don’t forget to program your weather radio with these specific frequencies.

Don’t wait. Communicate. Make your emergency plan today.

CKYhdyqUMAQdNj1

Third week in. Are you Ready?

@rusnivek