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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

Demobilized. Now back assigned. Deployed for response #Irma

Posted on September 9, 2017 by rusnivek

HQ, I copy the demob orders from Texas and Puerto Rico.

I also copy the new deployment orders for Florida.

Less than 24-hours.

@rusnivek

This is what we train for

Posted on September 8, 2017 by rusnivek

FEMA Administrator Brock Long made a poignant statement about his employees today in the NY Times:

“…this is what we train for” – FEMA Administrator Brock Long

Brock Long, center, at a briefing on Hurricane Harvey relief efforts with President Trump and local organizations in Corpus Christi, Tex., last week. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times

Yes sir, we train all the time.

Many instructors across this nation can attest the long hours we spend providing training for hundreds of thousands of our all-hazards public safety professionals from all walks of life.

This is truly what we train for.

@rusnivek

I’m no scientist, but #Hurricane #Irma looks fugly

Posted on September 7, 2017 by rusnivek

I have a weird feeling that it’s going to be Florida.

Things are spinning up and quite honestly, Hurricane Irma looks pretty fugly.

@rusnivek

Changing my Saturday plans in 3…2..1…

Posted on September 2, 2017 by rusnivek

Welp, Saturday plans will have to look slightly different now.

Better mount up as I *think this is for Texas.

Well, I don’t *think I’m going to need my tie, but definitely my best pair of boots.

Incident Management: External Affairs Media Relations Spc…aka PIO!

Along with #Harvey – I spy with my right eye, #Hurricane #Irma

@rusnivek

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

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

Sur. Sur! SUR! #munday

Posted on April 3, 2017 by rusnivek

I don’t know how many of you know that I was mentioned multiple times in a cult classic movie from 1980…

LOL – it’s Monday so I knew you needed a laugh.

Thinking a ton about Chicago this week.

@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.

Be safe out there peeps!

@rusnivek

2017 #CLEStPats Parade and your favorite PIOs Spox on bikes!

Posted on March 17, 2017 by rusnivek

2017 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Cleveland is in full swing today.

Always remember to check in at the start of your shift at the EOC!

As part of our all-hazards plan, we have coordinated services with so many other agencies. Obviously the Cleveland EOC Manager wrote an IAP for all of us (Incident Action Plan).

This coordinated document addresses issues that could/likely arise during the operational period. Briefings and discussion completed by leadership as well as the Incident Commander (IC) help all C&GSF successfully complete their tasks. Additionally, understanding each other’s roles as well as the overarching SMART objectives, mission, and goals contribute to the success of the event.

Reporting into my ESF-15: External Affairs – Spox work today!

Planned ESF-1 (Transportation) routes look fairly open so sharing this kind of info with the general public is important because the less impaired drivers we have on the roadways, the better.

That’s why we encourage building partnerships before an event or large disaster. In this case, partnerships between all providers and the Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority (@GCRTA) was key in sharing the message.

Once we field deployed, we planned on a few specific events and locations. Showcasing the skills of local bomb teams and K9 teams is an important part to share with the general public. Security is always important as we must ensure that everyone has a safe St. Patrick’s Day.

We used both Facebook Live, Twitter, Facebook, and Periscope to broadcast directly from the parade staging area on Superior Ave.

To aid in movement, we opted for a few bikes courtesy of the Cleveland Police Bike Unit.

You may have seen these bikes deployed out before during the RNC – they are NICE!!! By being mobile, PIOs have the ability to get anywhere in the response area (Note: This was the first time we have deployed PIOs on bikes for an event).

We even saw many of the reporters we regularly work with – like Fox 8 Cleveland‘s Jessica Dill who decided to do a live spot with us.

Great to have great relationships with local media.

We were able to showcase a few behind the scenes things like the lineup and start of the parade and spot interviews with VIPs in the parade lineup.

Cold day, but it seems like everyone heeded our cold weather warnings. NICE!

We reported back to the EOC to reorient ourselves as the parade had over 120 vehicles/floats.

This gave us a chance to brief w/ leadership and Incident Command (IC). As we continued to push out critical messages, it was imperative that we confirm with the Incident Commander that we are pushing out the right information.

Salient ICS point of reference: PIOs do not operate independently from the IC – they work to push the coordinated messages/information that is approved by the Incident Commander.

As emergency calls come in, the spread of mis-information is rampant. We as PIOs and official Spokespersons (Spox) must ensure that we get the right message out.

As we head back out to into the field, we are able to share traffic patterns and push that information out to the general public. This will help them depart safely and quicker after the parade from downtown Cleveland.

Additionally, Cleveland Police was out ensuring peace for all who attended the parade.

Not only local, but there are so many partners involved like the Cuyahoga County Sheriff…