EM Update

HAZMAT Rescue Training Prepares Emergency Workers for Rescues

A new addition to Virginia’s HAZMAT training program teaches emergency workers techniques to rescue civilians during HAZMAT incidents. During a recent training, students were trained on making rescues above, at and below grade level. Different tactics and equipment are needed for each situation.

Those interested in HAZMAT rescue training may visit www.vaemergency.gov and apply to the “Hazardous Materials Advanced Tactical Control” course.

Communications Field Day at Hungry Mother State Park Reaches Local Emergency Managers

Local and state public safety agencies were provided hands-on experience with the Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS) in a simulated emergency incident at the Communications Field Day, held May 8 at Hungry Mother State Park. The STARS radio system is technology used to coordinate multi-agency response to emergencies. Representatives from the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation were among the participants who engaged in the inoperability functions of the STARS radio system.

Public Safety Response to Terrorism Course Available for Emergency Responders

The Technological Hazards Division is now offering an eight-hour course on Public Safety Response to Terrorism Awareness. This awareness course is designed for responders who require the skills necessary to recognize and report a potential incident involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) or who are likely to respond to or investigate an event involving the use of WMDs. The course will be the first of three courses that will enable the student to function proficiently during a WMD incident.

To set up training for your first responders, contact Lee Bennett at (804) 897-9957 or email lee.bennett@vdem.virginia.gov.

Save Money During Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, May 25-31

From May 25-31, save money during Virginia’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. Tax-exempt items include useful commonplace products such as cellphone chargers, all types and sizes of bottled water, batteries and duct tape. Also tax-exempt are traditional emergency preparedness supplies including fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, generators and first aid kits. For more information for retailers and consumers, go to http://www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia/stay-informed/hurricanes/sales-tax-holiday.

VDEM Training Calendar

Please sign up early. The minimum enrollment for each of the classes below is 15, and the decision to conduct or cancel the course is made one week prior to course start.

Enrollment in the below courses is via the Commonwealth of Virginia Knowledge Center. Please access the Knowledge Center using the web address for the agency where your account resides. If your account is with VDEM, you will go to https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external . The announcement section on the login page provides an instruction sheet for first time users to register for an account and, once approved, enroll in the desired course(s). If you still have difficulty, please contact the LMS Help Desk at 804-897-9995.

The table below lists upcoming VDEM courses :

* Open to Fairfax Emergency Response/Emergency Management personnel only.

** Enrollment for the MGT-404 course must occur via this link: http://www.ncs4.com/im.

VDEM Training Calendar

Please sign up early. The minimum enrollment for each of the classes below is 15, and the decision to conduct or cancel the course is made one week prior to course start.

Enrollment in the below courses is via the Commonwealth of Virginia Knowledge Center. Please access the Knowledge Center using the web address for the agency where your account resides. If your account is with VDEM, you will go to https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external . The announcement section on the login page provides an instruction sheet for first time users to register for an account and, once approved, enroll in the desired course(s). If you still have difficulty, please contact the LMS Help Desk at 804-897-9995.

The table below lists upcoming VDEM courses :

* Open to VERT or prospective VERT members only.

Explosive Device Resources Available

There are a number of resources available to help emergency managers prepare their communities for events similar to the one that happened in Boston April 15.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security manages the national “If you see something, say something” campaign. Information and resources can be found at: http://www.dhs.gov/if-you-see-something-say-something-campaign

VDEM offers several training courses to help responders and communities prepare for events such as the Boston bombing. Some of the courses are: AWR 130 Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings and MGT 404 Sports and Special Event Incident Management. For more information on available courses contact the Office of Training and Exercises at lmshelp@vdem.virginia.gov or 804-897-9995

2013 Could Bring Active Hurricane Season

For 30 years, the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University has made annual hurricane season forecasts. The researchers say that the 2013 hurricane season will be more active than usual, with nine hurricanes and 18 named storms predicted. Four major hurricanes are forecast (categories 3, 4 or 5). “We anticipate an above-average Atlantic basin hurricane season due to the combination of an anomalously warm tropical Atlantic and a relatively low likelihood of El Niño. Coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them, and they need to prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted,” say the researchers. To see their report, go to http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/2013/apr2013/apr2013.pdf.

First Responder Resources Released to Assist Those with Functional and Medical Needs

To help first responders and emergency managers service the “Whole Community,” the National Terrorism Preparedness Institute, in partnership with the St. Petersburg College Center for Public Safety Innovation, has published information on assisting those with functional and medical needs. The videos and documents released are designed to improve understanding on all demographics of the public, and to offer best practices among first responders and emergency managers. To view the resources, go to http://terrorism.spcollege.edu/SPAWARAFN/index.html.

Registration Open for VHHA Forum and Virginia Department of Health Summit, April 29-May 2

Healthcare and emergency management officials will join the 2013 VHHA State Emergency Management Forum in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health Summit, April 29 through May 2 in Richmond. To register for this event, go to http://tinyurl.com/2013Forum-Summit-FES or log into TRAIN and enter the course ID “1042282.”