Welcome to the first ICS-300 class here at Argonne!
Introductions by our Division Director Mike P.
Proud to have participants from across the state attending. And for the first time at Argonne, we are super excited to see participants from local, county, state, and Federal agencies here.
That truly speaks to the collaborative nature of safety efforts for everyone.
Also happy to see IEMA-OHS Region-3 Regional Coordinator Lisa with us this morning too.
IEMA-OHS Region-3 covers all the greater Chicagoland suburbs and towns, but they do border Argonne so we mainly work closely with Region-4 and Region-3.
Proud to have Maria P. on my staff with me as we are fully capable and vetted to teach ICS classes.
And yes, if you were wondering, I’ve known Lisa and Maria well before I worked for the state.
Day-1 and we’re already putting everyone to work as we try to get everyone on the same page and same S.M.A.R.T. objectives.
Sometimes, these classes get drab esp if we only lecture so we almost immediately get everyone doing group work to foster more ideas.
This all-hazards approach to planning and solutions make it easier to digest the materials esp the tedious ones.
Proud to bring these courses to Argonne and proud of the partnerships many have already build here. I see fit to continue to empower all of our bestest partners in safety.
Look, I’ve only been here for 5 months, but the plans are starting to come together. #ArgonneEM
Reporting live from the Argonne Analytic Cell/EOC2…
Our 4th satellite phone came in today. Like gremlins, they are multiplying!
This Continuity of OPerations (COOP) effort is a phased plan that is imperative to everyone here.
It’s just another part of our COOP plan as Emergency Management leads the way for planning and coordination.
Think of it this way, it’s part of business continuity.
At any time, we have staff/SMEs around the world doing critical work. And we need instant communications with them and our global Exfil team that can deploy out immediately in an emergency.
In the near future, look to Argonne EM to lead the COOP effort for the area by providing high level training with our partners at FEMA.
Funny part, we are calling that part “Operation Kevins”
IEMA-OHS Region-3 meeting today so I get a chance to hang with the teams from across the greater Chicagoland and the top tier Emergency Managers.
I’ve been and have lead training here at the McHenry County Regional Training Center. Solid facility and the hospitality from the McHenry County EMA is outstanding.
Even more fun is seeing friends that I don’t get to see all that often.
Proud graduates of our FEMA Emergency Management Advanced Academy, it was great to see IEMA-OHS Operations Section Chief Chris D. and Aurora EMA Coordinator Natalie W. today.
Legit smiles as we all got a chance to catch up for a bit.
2025 Big City Emergency Managers in Chicago this week!
Along with all these pros from all over, I got a chance to meet the FEMA acting Administrator Tony Robinson
Nice guy!
Tony normally plays the role of the FEMA Region 6 Regional Administrator that covers Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and 68 federally recognized tribal nations.
The time has come to welcome all of our graduates of the FEMA Basic Academy here at DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management!
“This is the first FEMA Basic Academy offered here in Illinois and we are proud to bring this Emergency Management foundation education here to DuPage County.” said Academy Instructor Kevin Sur. “The skills learned during this intensive course from November through March builds the framework for all Emergency Managers combining knowledge of all fundamental systems, concepts, and practices of leading actions for future leaders.”
The course started in November 2019 where participants were exposed to all mission areas including a myriad of case studies that highlighted the importance of collaboration and coordination in the response and recovery phase of any disaster or emergency.
In January 2020, participants took a deep dive into the science of disasters as well as planning to better help and understand the threats and dangers to each of their own communities.
To understand our hazards, we must understand legit science so that we can use the right resources to solve the problem.
The last week in March 2020, the class focused on the hot button topic of Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program and the Public Information and Warning course. Special thanks to new FEMA MEPP DuPage County OHSEM Sup Corey Mulryan for teaching with me on this one.
Participants debated the use of mass notification systems, social media in targeting specific audiences, and the value of the Public Information Officer (PIO) who’s role is so vital to the success of the agency.
Proud to be a part of the Instructional delivery team to get this first class here at DuPage County OHSEM.
Who’s who in the zoo? Well, we had participants from 6 different states, 3 different FEMA Regions with a diverse crowd from local, county, state, and Federal partners.
OUTSTANDING!!!!!
As we rolled into the graduation, I was able to make some opening remarks and thanking our most esteemed guests in the room.
Glad to hear from the new FEMA Region V Deputy Regional Administrator Kevin Sligh.
Deputy RA Sligh is a graduate of the program and is proud to see this foundational course being used as the marker of success for local Emergency Managers.
We also got a chance to hear from FEMA Region 5 Training & Exercise Manager Jessica Mitchell on the value of training. She is a proud resident of DuPage County.
And finally, to close things out, ladies and gents….put your hands together for Former IEMA Director and former Director of DuPage OHSEM….FEMA Region V Regional Administrator James Joseph!!!!
Starting out Day-3 of the ICS-300 class on Aloha Friday.
You can see my Aloha shirt peeking out on this cold 34 degree day in Alabama.
Glad to share the work of what our public safety forces do prior to a disaster declaration. In fact, lots needs to get done before a Federal Declaration. We talk about how locals need to work seamlessly with state agencies.
Then we talk about the importance of how states work with our regional partners.
Tailoring the convo to our FEMA employees attending helps them understand the seriousness of our work as incidents get bigger and inevitably into a type-1 disaster.
Making sure you specifically address your audience is critical at being a good instructor.
Tho, I don’t know who is Kevin Kur. Dang it. 😆
So for those that believe ICS classes are boring, I would contend that you don’t have the right instructor(s). Case in point, who gets cheers and applause at the end of an ICS-300?
More fun as we continue through day-2 of ICS-300 at FEMA Region V.
Today’s convo will be dominated by the Planning P and how integral the cycle is to our operational rhythm in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or the Joint Field Office (JFO).
Also a great time to talk about resources and the need for more as we progress along in the disaster. As you know, ordering stuff (single point vs multi point) isn’t easy, accounting for the resource, tasking the resource, and justifying the resource is harder than it looks due to the restrictions that inbound resources have. As always, great discussion today from all participants!
Throwing the shaka cause I know tomorrow is AlohaFriday!
When I was deployed this summer with FEMA for the disaster response in Nebraska, I totally missed the State of Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) awarding me my official Illinois Professional Emergency Manager certification/designation.
Whohooooooooo – IPEM!
Special thanks to DHS/FEMA, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for their support in this process.
Tho, I don’t know who is Kevin Kur. Dang it. 😆
Where is @rusnivek? 