Tag Archives: professional

Is this flooded roadway safe? You tell me…. #TADD #Prepared2014

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This week is National Flood Safety Awareness Week (March 16 – 22, 2014).

To help clarify some misconceptions about water and flooding, let me make it very clear – NEVER drive through flooded roads. Here’s a great example. We were dispatched after a few reported calls of a flooded roadway. Looks innocent enough right?

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Just because it’s downhill does NOT mean it is any safer…in fact, it is more dangerous.

  1. Gravity will move/flow the water faster.
  2. More water will cause you to lose control of your vehicle or possibly sink your vehicle and/or drown you.
  3. More water will remain at the bottom of the hill will definitely cause damage to your vehicle.

So how can you share this safety message with others?

  • Continue to share the message of Turn Around, Don’t Drown = #TADD (National safety campaign phrase)
  • Flash flooding can occur anywhere – even within metropolitan and urban areas.
  • Avoid areas that are frequently flooded.
  • Always follow instructions from your local emergency service professionals.
  • Report any flooded roadways to the proper authorities.
  • NEVER drive through flooded roads.

It’s really bad news if we have to meet like this…

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If you were wondering, that’s me on the right

Do your part in #Prepared2014 by being safe this year.

@rusnivek

2014 National Flood Safety Awareness Week #TADD #Prepared2014

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This week is National Flood Safety Awareness Week (March 16 – 22, 2014).

Did you know that floods are the #1 natural disaster in the US? Just within the past five years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods.

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How can you help?

Share these easy safety tips with your constituents on flood safety:

  • Turn Around, Don’t Drown = #TADD (National safety campaign phrase)
  • Flash flooding can occur anywhere. If there is a possibility of a flash flood, move to higher ground. Always follow instructions from your local emergency service professionals.
  • NEVER drive through flooded roads.
  • Use local alerts and warning systems (like iPAWS and WEAs) which can send localized information about your immediate area.
  • Stay away from damaged areas unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire, or relief organization.
  • Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause thousands of dollars in damages.
  • Do you know if you live in a flood zone? Find out here for free.

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So check your emergency preparedness kits and make sure you are ready!

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@rusnivek

Training with the Department of Emergency Management in Florida

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Got a chance to meet and talk serious DHS/FEMA Emergency Management training today with the State of Florida Department of Emergency Management Director Bryan Koon and Osceola County Emergency Management Director Richard Collins.

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Just happy to spend a quick week in central Florida region.

Additionally, the central Florida region emergency management professionals are doing a solid job working together with their approach in all-hazards prevention, response, and recovery.

@rusnivek

December = Five Regions and completion of my PCP

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Schnikies – it’s December.

And my assignment card seems to be fairly full. This month I’ll be in FEMA Region 10, 8, 9, 3, and of course Region-5.

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Also this month, I should be submitting my paperwork for my FEMA Professional Continuity Practioner’s certification.

Looking forward to the change of scenery with my travels this month. As always, any peeps want to catch up or #Tweetup, let me know.

Happy holidays everyone!

@rusnivek

 

@rusnivek’s Top-6 Public Safety / PIO social media tip-2 …for free

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@rusnivek’s Top-6 Public Safety / PIO Social Media tips…for free

Again, I need to provide you more public safety social media tips. And since you have very little time in the day to spare, maybe you can read this while going down the elevator. Again, I’ll keep it short.

Here’s part-2 of my top 6 SM tips for public safety professionals / Public Information Officers (PIOs). And yes, it’s still free for you.

@rusnivek Social Media Tip-2: Every post, every avenue, every audience…anytime.

With so many different avenues of social media, one person cannot conceivably keep up with every emerging new program.

Pick a few platforms that work for you and that your audience mainly uses and post. Make it pertinent to your mission, make those posts reflect your organization’s objectives and goals, but most importantly, feed it.

Don’t be such a stickler about posting every day at the same bat time, at same bat place, on the same bat things. Change it up make your audience crave your info and make them check your feed incessantly for information they need.

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During an emergency, don’t just decide “Oh now is the time we should start to…”

STOP <SMH>  cause you are already dead in the water. #FAIL

So feed it anytime. It only takes a few minutes to feed it. Do it now.

Tip-2: Every post, every avenue, every audience…anytime.

@rusnivek

@rusnivek’s Top-6 Public Safety / PIO social media tips…for free

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I had a thought this AM..I need to provide you more public safety social media tips. And since you only have 30 seconds to spare, maybe less, I’ll keep it very short.

SO, here’s part-1 of my top 6 SM tips for public safety professionals / Public Information Officers (PIOs). And yes, it’s free for you.

@rusnivek Social Media Tip-1: Post it first (because they don’t interview the runner-up).

If you don’t post it first, someone else will be first to tell your story.

And that’s going to suck…because only you tell your story the best.

It only takes a few minutes to tell your story. 

It takes a TON of money and time to fix the wrong story, and then to tell it right.

To put things in perspective, “There are no points for second place.”

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Tip-1: Post it first (because they don’t interview the runner-up).

@rusnivek