EM Update

TEMPORARY ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES due to Knowledge Center Upgrade!

For all courses that begin May 31-July 31, please contact the LMS Help Desk at 804-897-9995 or via email at lmshelp@vdem.virginia.gov for enrollment assistance. If you email, please be sure to include a contact number. Enrollments will be disabled in the Knowledge Center from May 31-June 20 to allow data migration to the new system. Enrollment for courses that begin after August 1 will be postponed until the new system is online June 20. Web address, login ID and password for the new system will be the same as for the current Knowledge Center.

* Participation is in conjunction with the 2012 Campus CERT Initiative. For more information on requirements, contact Linda Rubin at 804-897-9789.

** Participation is limited to State Legislative, Judicial and Independent Agency Continuity Coordinators. No more than two per agency.

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VDEM Knowledge Center ungoing upgrade

VDEM’s online Knowledge Center is undergoing a major redesign and upgrade. During the improvement, the course enrollment portion of the Knowledge Center will be disabled. No online enrollments will be allowed from May 31 to June 20. To register for a course, students should call the LMS help desk at 804-897-9995 or email lmshelp@vdem.virginia.gov.

NOAA predicts near-normal hurricane season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting less hurricane activity in 2012 compared to recent years.

For the 2012 hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says there’s a 70 percent chance of nine to 15 named storms, of which four to eight will strengthen to a hurricane and of those one to three will become major hurricanes.

Based on the period 1981-2010, an average season produces 12 named storms with six hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.

For more visit http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2012/20120524_atlantic_hurricane_season.html

FEMA Advanced Profession Series Updated

The FEMA Emergency Management Institute has issued a revision of the Advanced Professional Series certificate program that expands the acceptable equivalent courses that can now be substituted for the primary list of APS courses. The equivalent courses now accepted are mostly longer comprehensive courses taught at the Emergency Management Institute’s campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland, but a few are local delivery courses provided by EMI staff instructors. All of the most recent changes make the achievement of the APS certificate more flexible without removing any of the previously included courses from the last revision in Fall 2011.

More information and the revised list of APS courses can be found on the VDEM web page at: http://www.vaemergency.gov/em-community/training/em-certification-programs

Hampton Roads leaders discuss long-term recovery

Local, state and federal officials, along with their private sector counterparts, came together on May 14 at Christopher Newport University to discuss long-term recovery issues following a major disaster in Hampton Roads.

The workshop focused on recovery issues one year after a simulated impact of a category 3 hurricane. Housing needs, infrastructure repair and economic impact were some of the issues discussed.

The workshop was the third in a series of hurricane based exercises that involved chief administrative officers from the region along with other local, state and federal officials. Approximately 140 participated in this year’s workshop.

FEMA now accepting nominations for community preparedness champions

Outstanding individuals, organizations, Citizen Corps Councils and other programs that work to make communities safer and better prepared for disasters can be nominated for FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness (ICP) Awards. Eligible activities must have taken place from Jan. 2, 2011 - June 1, 2012. Winners will be chosen from ten categories and will be announced in September during National Preparedness Month. Winners also will be FEMA’s honored guests at a community preparedness roundtable event in Washington, D.C. Send your nominations to citizencorps@fema.gov by July 31, 2012 at 11:59 p.m.!

Gov. McDonnell proclaims Hurricane and Flooding Preparedness Week

Virginia families should take action now to get ready for hurricane season, which begins June 1 and often brings significant flooding to both coastal and inland regions. To emphasize the important of emergency preparation, Gov. Bob McDonnell has recognized May 27-June 2 as Hurricane and Flooding Preparedness Week. The governor’s proclamation coincides with National Hurricane Preparedness Week, sponsored by the National Weather Service.

Last year, 10 residents died as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in Virginia. Many communities continue to recover. Before weather disasters and other emergencies hit, families should be prepared with an emergency kit of supplies, a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio to hear local information when the power is out, and a written family emergency plan. For more information on making a family plan as well as putting together a supply kit, see www.ReadyVirginia.gov. Also, consider purchasing flood insurance, which is available to both property owners and renters and is not typically included in homeowners insurance. Consult your insurance agent about flood insurance and learn more at www.floodsmart.gov.

Have you made your shopping list?

From May 25-31, Virginians can save money on useful items to help prepare for hurricane and flooding season. No sales tax will be charged on all types of bottled water and containers for water, flashlights and many kinds of batteries, weather radios, generators, plastic sheeting and tarps, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, first aid kits, cell phone chargers and batteries, and many other items. All Virginia retailers participate in the sales tax holiday. Get a complete list of tax-exempt items here:
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/Documents/2011%20List%20of%20Exempt%20Items%20(2).pdf Make a point to refill your emergency kit and tell your friends and family about the sales tax holiday.

VDEM Training Calendar -

The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Learning Management System Knowledge Center provides information and enrollment for each class. Students who do not already have an account through any state agency Learning Management System domain must register for a VDEM LMS account (a one-time process) in order to enroll. Students who have an account through any state agency should log in at that agency’s LMS address and enroll in the desired course(s). Help videos for registration and enrollment processes are provided on the VDEM LMS login page at https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external/. Assistance is available from VDEM’s LMS Help Desk at lmshelp@vdem.virginia.gov or (804) 897-9995.

The table below lists VDEM courses for the next quarter :

  * Participation is in conjunction with the 2012 Campus CERT Initiative. For more information on requirements, contact Linda Rubin at 804-897-9789.

  ** Participation is limited to State Legislative, Judicial and Independent Agency Continuity Coordinators. No more than two per agency.

Chesapeake receives $1.2 million mitigation grant

The City of Chesapeake received a grant of $1.2 million from FEMA to acquire and demolish six residential structures to prevent future damage from flooding.

The six properties, which had been repeatedly damaged by flooding in the past, will be turned into open space.

FEMA will pay $1,248,724.48, which is 75 percent of the total project costs. The remaining 25 percent will be covered by local and state funds. This grant is available through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Learn more about FEMA’s HMGP grants by visiting
http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/hma/index.shtm