January 2011
18 posts
Additional snow recovery funds approved for...
FEMA has awarded an additional $1,179,826 in Public Assistance program grant funds to the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative for costs associated with the February 2010 severe winter storm. To date, more than $45.7 million has been approved for Virginia applicants affected by the December 2009 and February 2010 storms.
The grant reimburses the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative’s...
Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue
TLAER training teaches emergency responders how to safely prepare for and approach large animal incidents such as overturned and wrecked trailers or livestock haulers, large animals loose on the road, large animals stuck in mud or ravines, and incidents where people might be trapped with the animal. The three-day class addresses large animal behavior during rescues, how to use the equipment that...
VDEM to launch new website
In March, VDEM will launch a new agency website that features simple navigation and updated information about preparing for emergencies. The new site will combine three current sites (vaemergency.com, ReadyVirginia.gov and ListoVirginia.gov) under one address: vaemergency.gov. The site will offer greater flexibility to agency staff to create and modify content, and it will expand to include an...
VDEM Training Calendar
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...
Emergency preparedness for farmers, ranchers and...
February 24 at 3 p.m.
This free webinar will explore developing emergency plans, support networks and sheltering for a population with restricted physical abilities and greater physical isolation from neighbors and emergency services. More information and registration instructions are available at http://news.agrability.org/2011/webinar_2-11.html
NWS to use test tornado warning for Statewide...
For the first time in Virginia, the National Weather Service will send a test tornado warning to start the Statewide Tornado Drill, set this year for Tuesday, March 15. The test warning will be tone alerted and broadcast by NOAA Weather Radio and will simulate what listeners would hear during an actual tornado warning. For past tornado drills, the NWS has sent a routine test signal, but many...
Updated FEMA classes available
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute has
updated four classes to align more closely with the
National Response Framework and National Incident
Management System:
IS-235.a
- Emergency Planning
IS-240.a
- Leadership & Influence
IS-241.a
- Decision Making and Problem Solving
IS-242.a
- Effective Communication
“FEMA cites flooding as the cause of 90 percent of all natural disaster damage,...”
– FEMA warns of seasonal winter flooding
FEMA is reminding residents that the risk of flooding continues through the winter months and that most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Heavy rains, melting snows and other factors can bring flooding to all parts of Virginia, and coverage...
New senior regional coordinator selected
Bruce Sterling, coordinator for Region 2, has been selected to serve as senior regional coordinator, a new federally funded position at VDEM. The senior regional coordinator will serve as a bridge across regions, coordinating major statewide projects. The initial focus will be on catastrophic events, specifically a significant hurricane strike to Region 5 and any event in Region 7 leading to a...
Additional snow recovery funds approved for...
FEMA has awarded an additional $2,769,747 in Public Assistance program grant funds to Fairfax County public schools and the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative for severe storm cleanup in February 2010. To-date, more than $41.6 million has been approved statewide for Virginia applicants affected by the disasters.
The funds represent a 75-percent federal share of the project costs, which...
The Public Works Role in Emergency Management
This new course provides an introduction to the role of public works departments in community emergency management. The training is intended to help communities improve their emergency management efforts regarding the functions of public works agencies prior to, during and after disasters: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is552.asp
VDEM Training Calendar
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...
Pet sheltering grant funds available
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is soliciting applications for the FY10 Pet Sheltering Grant. Applications must show support for the following three primary objectives:
1- Develop regional capabilities to provide temporary emergency animal sheltering through the procurement of regional mobile pet sheltering equipment caches;
2- To enhance Community Animal Response...
Safe Made Simple contest winners announced
Virginia Citizen Corps announced two winners in the “Safe Made Simple” contest. The winners successfully created an emergency supply kit to support four people for three days, for less than $20. Participants also had the option of creating a video describing how they did it.
Bob Chauncey, a Virginia Beach CERT volunteer, and Jetta Earhart, a member of the Shenandoah Valley Project Impact Citizen...
Newport News hosts emergency pet shelter workshop
The city of Newport News hosted an Emergency Pet Shelter Workshop to nearly 70 participants in December at Warwick High School. Classroom and hands-on training included setting up the kenneling area and the registration/intake area. The class was open to all Hampton Roads CERT and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers as well as veterinary technicians throughout the area. Participants included...
Virginia In-state National Fire Academy Weekend
March 12 - 13, 2011, Wytheville Community College
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs is offering two days of training for $25. Registrations will be accepted by mail only—no phone or fax registrations. The deadline for registrations is Feb. 5. Classes will include, among others:
· Incident Safety Officer (Revised) Train-the-Trainer
· Introduction to Wildland and...
New FEMA guidance for emergency operations plans
The new Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans provides guidance for developing emergency operations plans and is the standard against which FEMA will evaluate local EOPs. This Guide helps planners at all levels of government in their efforts to develop and maintain viable, all-hazards, all-threats emergency plans. This new version places...
CERT partners with Neighborhood Watch
Virginia Citizen Corps and the Virginia Crime Prevention Association hosted two free Community Emergency Response Team trainings to Crime Prevention Specialists from the Virginia Neighborhood Watch Program. This was a first official effort to push out CERT training to Neighborhood Watch volunteers.
The twenty-hour curriculum includes hands-on and classroom training in fire safety, light search...