Busy December for 5 and 3 and 9 but no on 10

After a busy November, let’s continue the push hard into December please!

This Wednesday, I’ll be headed to Michigan to teach with FEMA Region-5 on continuity.

Upon the return to Ohio, I’ll make the quick turnaround and head down to southern Ohio/West Virginia to teach ICS-300. A double serving of Region-5 and Region-3.

Then head to Fulton County, Ohio (Toledo area) to teach a Basic PIO course with my favorite PIOs in the biz. Back in Region-5 baby!

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The Oregon trip was canceled so No Region-10 for me. Boooooooooooooooo. But ongoing through December, I have two priority special projects for R9 and R5 that need to close too. So no futzing around!

December summary: Yes on 5, 3, and 9…but no on 10.

I’m just hoping to spend some family time sometime. Happy holidays everyone!

@rusnivek

AAR / IP on the Toledo Water Contamination today

I’m facilitating the After-Action-Review / Improvement Plan for Fulton County from the Toledo Water Contamination.

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Lots of discussion from this all-hazards group of pros.

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Good Emergency Management discussions today!

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Most importantly, glad to see lots of engagement from everyone here.

@rusnivek

Toledo LifeFlight under the microscope for non-life threatening aeromedical transport #EMS

So it seems like Toledo LifeFlight and Put-In-Bay EMS just made WKYC’s news last night. I’m not quite sure who this investigative report is intended to pin the blame, but to me it sounds like Toledo LifeFlight is under the microscope because of non-life threatening aeromedical transport.

(Pertaining to EMS calls) “We don’t want to go short on the staff here.” – Keith Kahler, PiB EMS.

“…anxiety attack that looks very similar to a chest pain” – Dr. Daniel Schwerin, Toledo LifeFlight Medical Director.

Watch WKYC’s investigative story here

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Did WKYC cut Dr. Schwerin clip a bit short? Did the spokesperson from PiB EMS give contradictory statements? Or did Tom Meyer get too excited just by reading police reports?

Let me know what you think.

@rusnivek

Doing good PIO deeds this morning at NBC24 WNWO

Doing good PIO deeds this morning here at NBC24 (WNWO) in Toledo.

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It’s really amazing to see how much a smaller news station can accomplish especially with the right people and the right technology.

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Special thanks to Angi Gonzalez (@AnchorAngi) and staff at NBC24 WNWO.

Still in Region-V baby!

@rusnivek

 

 

 

 

Drone hampers aeromedical crew from landing at MVA

Flying a drone and causing trouble during an actual call?

See, I told you that it would happen. To verify, check my documentation from my AAR on 03-06-14 (AirOps Branch-Observation/Recommendation-3 on page 16).

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@rusnivek

 

 

Police: Ohio Man’s Drone Prevents Medical Helicopter from Landing at Crash Scene

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — A man is facing charges after deputies say he was flying a video camera-equipped drone that hindered the landing of a medical helicopter at an accident scene.

Kele Stanley, of Springfield, said he’s been unfairly charged and would have landed it immediately if he knew the medical helicopter was en route.

“I’m not an idiot,” he said.

The hobbyist was flying the $4,000 drone over a crash scene on Saturday morning to shoot photos and video.

Authorities said both fire officials and a Clark County sheriff’s deputy told Stanley to stop flying his remote-controlled aircraft because the helicopter was preparing to land, and that he refused. The helicopter was able to land and depart safely from the scene.

Stanley is facing a felony charge of obstructing official business and misdemeanor charges of misconduct at an emergency and disorderly conduct. He pleaded not guilty during a court appearance Monday and said he’s going to hire a lawyer to fight the charges.

Stanley, a 31-year-old copy-machine repairman and videographer, said he flew his remote-controlled “hexacopter” about 75 feet above where a pickup had hit a tree in Moorefield Township near Springfield. He said he was shooting the video as a hobby and would have turned it over to local television stations, as he has done before.

There currently are no regulations in Ohio governing private use of the unmanned aircraft, although law enforcement agencies must get special permits to use them. The Federal Aviation Administration bars the commercial use of drones.

Ice and Water Rescue in NW Ohio – All-Hazards Full Scale Exercise

Spending a bunch of time in NW Ohio with several emergency services agencies focused in on Water/Ice Rescue.

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Did some GPS coordinate work, observation and recon work, and of course some grid search pattern work.

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A few of my peeps testing their newly acquired National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) concepts.

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Had a chance to interact with a few of the NW Ohio water rescue resources as well as a few aeromedical agencies too.

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I’m glad to see so many willing all-hazards participants involved in this exercise.

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Also glad to see local and regional law enforcement participation in the day’s events too.

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Despite relatively colder temps, all crews managed to say jovial and warm.

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Thanks again to my cadre of ICS Subject Matter Experts in Operations, Logistics, Public Information, Communications, and Air Operations who assisted today with evaluation.

@rusnivek

Last Alarm Memorial Service for 2 Toledo Firefighters #LODD

Last Alarm memorial service for two Toledo Firefighters who died in the line of duty.

Toledo Fire Department Engine-3, Firefighter Stephen Machcinski

Toledo Fire Department Engine-3, Firefighter James Dickman

Thursday January 30, 2014 starting at 1900

SeaGate Convention Center

401 Jefferson Ave in Toledo

 

Donations can be made at any PNC bank branch.

@rusnivek