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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

Meetings at FEMA HQ and prep for Hurricane Harvey

Posted on August 24, 2017 by rusnivek

Fun time this morning at FEMA HQ.

Quick meeting with my manager and a quick hello to our other External Affairs pros on the 8th floor.

Additionally, lots of planning ongoing for the preparedness/response for Hurricane Harvey. And lots of senior administration here today to update ongoing issues as well as brief leadership on various branches of government.

Photo Credit: FEMA/Bill Koplitz

Despite the ongoing flurry of activity, I was still able to grab a few smiles from my External Affairs peeps.

@rusnivek and @EmergencyPrepGal

We are going to need everyone to listen to trusted sources of local, state, national information on safety measures being implemented throughout affected areas.

Please heed the warnings of your local public safety professionals.

If told to evacuate, immediately do so.
Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
Most of all, grab your preparedness kit and keep family/friends close as Hurricane Harvey makes landfall.

Be safe peeps.

@rusnivek

Orig #Solar #Eclipse #NASA #Briefing + FREE #Preparedness tips + #Path + #glasses

Posted on August 21, 2017 by rusnivek

If you wanted to hear the orig NASA Solar Eclipse (Briefing from June 2017):

Here’s how to prepare for the 2017 Solar Eclipse:

And just in case you want to know where to go for a total solar eclipse:

And yes, please don’t forget to WEAR YOUR SPECIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES!!!!

Reporting live

@rusnivek

NEO Public Information Officer quarterly training with WKYC

Posted on August 8, 2017 by rusnivek

Great to see the leadership at WKYC (NBC affiliate) for hosting our quarterly NorthEast Ohio’s (NEO) Public Information Officer (PIO) training!

Photo credit: K. Hyson, Cincinnati Health Department

Lots of discussion based around media relations focusing on timely and accurate reporting. Additionally, lots of conversation with good stories vs bad stories – which challenges the typical paradigm of news media’s “If it bleeds, it leads!” mantra.

“Off the record” conversation as well as immediate notification of incident dominated the early part of our conversation.

We moved into how strategy sometimes gets in the way of real emergencies and of course how our PIO narratives sometimes conflicts with how the story is produced.

To me, I was also surprised at how many reporters wanted txt msgs as compared to phone calls. In fact, desk assignment editors wanted a mention as well as a follow-up txt or notification of ongoing emerging issue.

I am very greatful to be able to have candid conversation with our partners in the media. And yes, sharing success stories as well as challenges will allow us to do a better job with our local media to communicate our safety messages. Very glad to hear that getting the story right is still the main drive of our local news agencies.

Many thanks to the pros at WKYC (NBC affiliate) Cleveland for the hospitality and generosity.

Reporting live from WKYC…

@rusnivek

This old label maker makes for a perfect disaster prep tool

Posted on July 2, 2017 by rusnivek

Yesterday, I found my old label maker.

Needless to say, things started to get out of hand.

The good part is this label maker does NOT need batteries. So it kinda does make for a great disaster preparedness tool.

I wonder what else I can label today.

Haha

@rusnivek

Congrats to the new FEMA Administrator Brock Long!

Posted on June 23, 2017 by rusnivek

Congrats to the new FEMA Administrator Brock Long!

Brock Long was officially sworn in as FEMA administrator, by Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, in a ceremony this morning.

Welcome to FEMA!

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

Official Press Release can be found here HQ-17-033.

@rusnivek

Did the USA Today just feature Jennifer and I for the SB Earthquake hiccup?

Posted on June 23, 2017 by rusnivek

Um, did the USA Today just feature Jennifer and I in the USGS earthquake hiccup?

#famous

Here’s the link to the full animation: https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/2017/06/22/fake-earthquake-shakes-up-internet/103098496/

@rusnivek

Brand new Social Media Engagement Strategies course debut at SAC EOC #NDPTC

Posted on April 24, 2017 by rusnivek

Solid start to the week being able to deliver the brand new FEMA NDPTC Social Media Engagement Strategies course.

Numerous pros from across the state of California attending today.

Special thanks to the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services in hosting this fun class in their Emergency Operations Center.

Super special shoutout goes to MayJo!

Talked specifically about addressing audiences and their appropriate platforms. Mediums like static posts are great however we need to explore outside of your comfort zone and try new avenues to communicate. FacebookLive, Periscope, InstagramLive, YouTubeLive, etc…..these new emerging live broadcast tools can allow agencies to be creative in their broadcast of messages.

Solid afternoon facilitation on the formulation of a strategic communications specifically focusing in on social media and audience engagement.

And of course the standard shout out to our friend Cheryl.

Overall, the intent of this class is really to be a catalyst to start a meaningful conversation about engaging your constituents on various social media platforms.

Obviously, you would be taking FEMA NDPTC PER-344 Social Media Tools & Techniques first – which gives you a heavy dose of the currrent tools/platforms that are out there as well as a bunch of tactics and techniques that you could use in your EOC or JIC.

Both courses provide a different take on social media actions esp during disasters / crisis.

Keep on learning peeps. Much more to digest and figure out.

We all must do better to support our local communities, county coordinators, and state officials to work and communicate together before, during, and after the disaster.

We the people right? #Merica

@rusnivek

Few PIO takeaways from yesterday’s #CLEStPats Parade Spoxing

Posted on March 18, 2017 by rusnivek

Few Public Information Officer (PIO) takeaways after yesterday’s #CLEStPats Parade.

#Spectacles are great for “hands-free” wearable technology…because its difficult to ride a bike and social media.

Duh! Hands free is great.

However, many people asked about my Spectacles which made it difficult to focus in on duty stuff.

The video activation on Spectacles was tough because I had/could only use my left hand only to start the video.

I wonder if those that have been following along on the SnapChat story, are disappointed when they see it’s only a “regular snap” vs “from Spectacles” in the top left identifier. I guess it’s the same viewer mindset as picture vs video because video appeals to more audiences with movement. Spectacles video is circular in nature, easy to expand view of scene. Here’s a quick example.

Here’s the view from a portrait style snap.

And here’s the same view bust just one of the possible views of a snap with viewer control of scene and framing.

Obv, lots more to see.

Additionally, I can see many of the viewers expecting video as they are getting the “behind the scenes” details with consistent narration. Which means – WE HAVE TO KEEP TALKING ALL THE TIME! Yikes.

As for Spectacles, you might want to consider your breathing as part of the “production” because my Spectacles picked up my breathing standing still and on the bike.

Wind blocking isn’t so great on them – so your “action” movement might be tough to record proper audio. There are no visible ports on SnapChat’s Spectales to attach an external mic.

Again, fun times yesterday with Cleveland Police and so many all-hazards partners in public safety.

If we consistently support each other, we will all succeed in our respective missions.