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...