February 2012
11 posts
IS 908 -- Emergency Management for Senior...
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute has launched a new online course for senior officials such as mayors, city managers and county managers. The course will introduce senior officials to emergency management concepts and the role that senior leaders play.
For more information and to take the course visit http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is908.asp
FEMA adds Public Works courses
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute has added three new independent study courses geared for Public Works officials.
IS 554 — Emergency Planning for Public Works
IS 556 — Damage Assessment for Public Works
IS 558 — Public Works and Disaster Recovery
For more information and to register for the courses visit http://training.fema.gov/IS/
Earthquake center stage for March 2012 symposium
The 2012 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium will cover many diverse subjects, but not surprisingly Virginia’s earthquake will be the subject of several sessions. During the general session, Martin Chapman, the state geologist and Scott Keim, Louisa County fire chief and emergency management coordinator will provide an overview of the quake and discuss response efforts. Breakout sessions will...
2012 State of FEMA report published
On Feb. 13, FEMA published the first ever State of FEMA report. The document provides an overview of 2011 disaster response and recovery efforts and highlights the agency’s goals and “whole community” effort.
To read the report visit http://www.fema.gov/about/state_of_fema/index.shtm
Hampton Roads outreach draws volunteers
A Citizen Corps public outreach effort in Hampton Roads has successfully lead to an increase in the number of volunteers. The campaign, which is still underway, includes web banners, TV ads and promotion using Google’s search engine. The campaign was funding by Urban Area Security Initiative grant funds.
For more information visit www.readyhamptonroads.org
Website for emergency management and social media
There is help out there for Virginia emergency managers interested in learning about and using social media. Emergency managers can visit http://www.sm4em.org/ and learn from other professionals from across the country about using social media.
There are tips on how to get started, links to ongoing projects and articles on the use of social media.
Those on Twitter can also follow #SMEM and...
Google launches Public Alerts
Google is now displaying relevant emergency message information when users search on Google Maps. The program, which began this January, is using information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service and the US Geological Survey.
Users search for key terms and locations to find out what might be happening in a specific area. For example, users can...
FEMA offers Hazard Mitigation Grant Class
FEMA is offering two Benefit Cost Analysis classes for local Virginia communities interested in submitting any type of structural projects under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The course will help students understand what projects might be eligible and how to put together an application.
The two-day classes are offered:
Feb. 13 and 14
Northern Neck Planning District Commission
Warsaw,...
FEMA approves additional earthquake aid
Residents in the counties of Albemarle and King George are now eligible for federal disaster assistance to help them recover from the Aug. 23 earthquake and the more than 60 aftershocks.
FEMA denied Virginia’s original request for assistance for Albemarle and King George on Dec. 29, 2011. Governor McDonnell appealed and now the counties join Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, Louisa, Orange and...
January 2012
15 posts
VEMA accepting annual award nominations
The Virginia Emergency Mangement Association is now accepting nominations for several annual awards. Categories include: Emergency Manager of the Year, Outstanding New Emergency Management Professional, Volunteer Award, Corporate Award and more.
The deadline for nominations is March 9. Winners will be announced during the annual symposium March 28-30. For more information visit www.vemaweb.org.
Disaster Relief Fund Helping With Unmet Needs
More than 200 families have received assistance totaling almost $817,000 from the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund.
One of the first tornado survivors helped was Ruth Koutsombinas of Gloucester County. The April 16th twister ripped apart her mobile home (photo above), killing her husband, Periclis. She was severely injured.
Mrs. Koutsombinas is now living in a new mobile home purchased...
Due to budgetary constraints, VDEM must cancel a
class if a minimum of 15 students have not enrolled
two weeks before the class begins. Sign up early.
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...
IS-909 - Community Preparedness: Implementing...
This new online course will help students learn how to build a prepared and engaged community. The focus is building community based preparedness programs. The primary audience for the course is emergency managers and faith based and non-profit organizations.
Read more about the class and register: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is909.asp
Participate in the Statewide Tornado Drill
Registration is now open for the March 20 Statewide Tornado Drill at www.ReadyVirginia.gov. Businesses, schools, organizations, families and individuals are encouraged to take part in this critical safety exercise. 2011 was a tough year in Virginia for tornadoes – here’s a look back:
• 51 tornadoes hit, the second highest number on record (87 in 2004)
• Most tornadoes struck during April,...
How to communicate during disasters
Dozens of destructive tornadoes, an historic earthquake, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee all hit Virginia in 2011. In the minutes and hours after these disasters, it was difficult to make calls on cell phones because the mobile networks were so busy. Ready Virginia has created a new downloadable tip sheet about phone use during disasters. Topics include “Before a Disaster: How to Prepare...
Updated earthquake recovery efforts
So far, more than $25 million in disaster aid has been approved for earthquake recovery in Virginia.
Almost 4,600 households have registered for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.
More than $8.4 million in grants have been approved for home repairs.
More than $2.3 million in loans have been approved by the SBA for homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the earthquake....
City of Fairfax and NWS produce severe weather ads
The City of Fairfax and the National Weather Service have partnered to develop a series of video public service announcements on severe weather. The PSAs air on the city’s cable channel and are available online.
View the PSAs: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52CE4E85EB3B6F79&feature=plcp
Like Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Training on Facebook for updates on upcoming courses!
Due to budgetary constraints, VDEM must cancel a
class if a minimum of 15 students have not enrolled
two weeks before the class begins. Sign up early.
The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Learning Management
System Knowledge Center provides information and
enrollment for each class....
Registration open for 2012 Virginia Emergency...
Registration for the 2012 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium is now open. Topics include the response to the Louisa Earthquake, Hurricane Irene, Caroline County bus accident, cyberterrorism, corporate emergency management and more.
The conference will be held March 28-30 at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa in Short Pump.
More information: http://www.vemaweb.org/content/symposium2012/
Hampton Roads Regional Citizen Corps Council...
The Hampton Roads Regional Citizen Corps Council recently launched ReadyHamptonRoads.org to encourage residents to become better prepared for disasters by becoming involved and trained through one of the five Citizen Corps programs.
In addition to the new website, HRRCCC initiatives also include regional training equipment and an interactive mobile application for smart phones. The app, which will...
Arizona and Louisiana helping Virginia with...
Personnel from Arizona and Louisiana are in Virginia to help with recovery efforts for the earthquake, Hurricane Irene and T.S. Lee. The teams will help develop estimates on public property damage. The storms and quake caused an estimated $65 million in damages to public infrastructure and the team’s efforts will help local and state government receive FEMA reimbursement for the damages.
...
National Hurricane Center seeking input on storm...
The National Hurricane Center is seeking input to improve exisitng NHC storm surge products and services. Visitors to the Storm Surge Forum can submit ideas, vote on existing ideas and/or add comments. The best ideas for improvement will rise to the top with this interactive website.
To get involved visit: https://nhcsurge.ideascale.com/
IS-660 - Introduction to Public-Private...
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute is offering a new online course: IS-660 Introduction to Public-Private Partnerships. The course provides an introduction to the role of public-private partnerships in emergency preparedness and planning. The goal of this training is to establish a common vocabulary for public sector agencies and private sector organizations interested in utilizing...
December 2011
16 posts
2011 record-setting year nationwide for natural...
A recent report by the National Climatic Data Center says that 2011 has seen more billion-dollar natural disasters than any year on record. April tornadoes, an historic earthquake, Hurricane Irene and the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee hit Virginia during 2011, causing loss of life and property and leaving millions of dollars in damage.
April tornadoes, April 8, 27-28 and 26; at least 30...
VDEM Training Calendar
Like Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Training on Facebook for updates on upcoming courses!
Due to budgetary constraints, VDEM must cancel a
class if a minimum of 15 students have not enrolled
two weeks before the class begins. Sign up early.
The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Learning Management
System Knowledge Center provides information and
enrollment for each class....
New FEMA document explores Whole Community concept
FEMA has published “A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action.” FEMA consulted local, tribal, state, territorial and federal representatives; academia; nongovernmental organizations; community members; and the private sector to create the document.
More information about the Whole Community approach is available at ...
James City County CERT volunteers recognized by...
Emergency Management director Kate Hale and Public Fire educator Margaret Tucker received the 2011 Chairman’s Award from James City County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mary Jones for their work in the Community Emergency Response Team program.
The CERT program, initiated in the Fire Department’s Division of Emergency Management in 2003, has trained 342 citizens, certified nine organized...
CERT Basic training participant manual in Braille...
The National Community Emergency Response Team program has released the participant manual in Braille and PDF screen reader versions. Each version includes the same content as the standard version participant manual—the nine units of the course and 13 hazard annexes.
The screen reader version of the Participant Manual is available on the national CERT website,...
VDEM’s Private Sector Liaison Program makes FEMA’s...
VDEM’s seven-month-old Private Sector Liaison Program has been added as one of FEMA’s national Model Public-Private Partnership Programs. FEMA’s model program site provides other states with examples of programs designed to bring together the private sector with emergency management communities:
http://www.fema.gov/privatesector/ppp_models.shtm
For more information about this program please...
New levee analysis method open for feedback
FEMA is asking for feedback from the public and interested stakeholders regarding the new levee analysis and mapping approach for non-accredited levees. The public review and comment period will end Jan. 30.
“Revised Analysis and Mapping Procedures for Non-Accredited Levees: Proposed Approach for Public Review” is available for download and comment at...
Virginia Citizen Corps creates web resource
Virginia Citizen Corps has created an online resource library to decrease the number of emails coming from VCC. The library, available at http://www.vaemergency.gov/volunteer/va-cit-corps-councils, will include:
• FEMA and FEMA Region III information, resources, updates, opportunities
• VOAD information and opportunities
• Selected Virginia Citizen Corps initiatives, updates and postings...
Social Media in Today's Society
The next in a series of FEMA webinars will focus
on social media. The webinar defines social media
and presents the emerging trends and best practices
in using social media applications (Facebook, Twitter,
You Tube, etc.) during all phases of emergency management. It
also provides a tutorial on how to access and work
within these social media applications. The
webinar concludes...
IS-247 - Integrated Public Alert and Warning...
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute is offering a new online course: IS-247 - Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. The course gives basic information about IPAWS to increase awareness about using IPAWS for public warnings, how to draft more effective warning messages and best practices in using Common Alerting Protocol.
Details are available at...
Online counter-terrorism training available
Counter Terrorism Operations Support – Center for Radiological/Nuclear Training is offering two online courses:
AWR-140-W Weapons Of Mass Destruction Radiological/Nuclear Awareness Course, Web Based: An overview of radiological/nuclear WMD designed for first responders and other personnel who are likely to be the first to arrive on scene.
NEW AWR-224-W Secondary Screener Radiation Detection...
VDEM Training Calendar
Like VDEM Training on Facebook for updates
on upcoming courses: http://www.hs.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Department-of-Emergency-Management-Training/241324432558332
Due to budgetary constraints, VDEM must cancel a
class if a minimum of 15 students have not enrolled
two weeks before the class begins. Sign up early.
The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Learning Management
System Knowledge...
FEMA releases National Preparedness System...
The National Preparedness System description explains the resources and tools needed to achieve the National Preparedness Goal. The six-page document prepared by FEMA outlines how the nation will build on current preparedness efforts in six areas:
Identifying and assessing risks
Estimating capability requirements
Building or sustaining capabilities
Developing and implementing plans to...
Virginia Citizen Corps wins two FEMA Region III...
FEMA Region III Administrator MaryAnn Tierney recognized Virginia’s Citizen Corps program with two National Preparedness Month awards: Leading by Example and United We Stand.
The Leading by Example award acknowledges extraordinary local efforts during NPM, and the United We Stand award recognizes the Commonwealth for the largest number of NPM events and activities in FEMA Region III. ...
FY11 EMPG application period opens
More than $1 million is available statewide to local governments through the FY11 Emergency Management Performance Competitive Grant Program. This grant is available to cities, counties and towns recognized as emergency management jurisdictions under Title 44 of the Code of Virginia.
EMPG funds support local emergency management programs with an emphasis on enhancing local emergency...
FEMA approves more than $5 million for earthquake...
Since federal disaster aid was approved for Louisa County earthquake survivors on Nov. 4, more than $5 million in grants has been approved. In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $700,000 in the form of low-interest disaster loans.
As of Dec. 4:
$5,171,588 in total housing and personal needs has been approved.
Of that amount, $5,142,403 has been approved for...
November 2011
20 posts
VDEM Training Calendar
Like VDEM Training on Facebook to receive
updates on upcoming courses: http://www.hs.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Department-of-Emergency-Management-Training/241324432558332
Due to budgetary constraints, VDEM must cancel
a class if a minimum of 15 students have not enrolled
two weeks before the class begins. Sign up early.
The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Learning Management
System Knowledge...
Spotsylvania County added for public assistance
Spotsylvania County has been approved for the Public Assistance program for recovery from the Aug. 23 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
Public Assistance is for local governments and certain private, nonprofit organizations in the county, not for individuals. To be eligible to receive PA, a private, nonprofit organization must own or operate facilities that provide services of a...
FEMA approves Public Assistance for governments...
FEMA has approved federal disaster assistance to help eight local governments and the state recover from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, which caused heavy rain and flooding in Virginia Sept. 8-9.
Gov. McDonnell requested assistance through the federal Public Assistance program to help Caroline, Essex, Fairfax, King and Queen, King George, Prince William and Westmoreland counties and the...
Virginia earthquake blog →
The Virginia earthquake blog continues to provide information about recovery efforts and assistance from FEMA.
2012 preparedness campaign dates set
Throughout the year, Ready Virginia emphasizes the importance of emergency preparedness through seasonal public outreach campaigns. Partners in the Ready Virginia emergency preparedness effort – including the National Weather Service – will follow these dates for consistency and stronger messaging to citizens.
• January: Resolve to be Ready New Year’s Campaign
• March 20: Tornado Preparedness...
FEMA webinar: social media
The next webinar in a series of monthly webinars will address social media trends and best practices during all phases of emergency management. The webinar also provides a tutorial on how to access and work within social media applications.
Details: Dec. 7, 1 - 2 p.m. at https://fema.connectsolutions.com/r63643088/ No registration required. Conference Bridge: 1-800-320-4330 and Pin #:...
North Anna Power Station restarts
The two units at the North Anna Power Station are being brought back on line this week after automatically shutting down when the Mineral earthquake hit on Aug. 23. the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave its approved for a restart last week after Dominion Virginia Power invested more than 100,000 hours supporting inspections, testing and analyses to ensure a safe restart. The technical...