EM Update

FEMA Student ID to Replace Social Security Number in FEMA, NFA, and EMI Course Registration

To protect security for students, FEMA, the National Fire Administration, and the Emergency Management Institute will soon ask training course registrants for a FEMA student ID, instead of their Social Security Number. To obtain a FEMA Student ID, go to https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid and click on “Need a FEMA SID.”

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.

Anonymous asked: when are ICS 400 classes being held in virginia 2013

All VDEM ICS-400 courses currently scheduled are found at this link: http://www.vaemergency.gov/em-community/training/ics-400-advanced-ics-400. There is another category of ICS courses called Sponsored courses that are taught by VDEM-approved instructors for the instructor’s own locality/agency. Because these are taught for and advertised by their instructors to specific audiences, VDEM does not advertise these courses on our website. These course listings are available via the VDEM Knowledge Center at https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external. You must register for an account to gain access.

Anonymous asked: Where is the G-290 training location in Marian Virginia?

Unfortunately, the Marion G-290: Basic Public Information Officer course was cancelled due to low enrollment. The enrollment deadline for all VDEM’s courses is one week prior to start. At that time, a decision is made whether it is cost effective to conduct the course. The good news is that another session of the course is scheduled in Orange on May 7-8. Please see this link for details, including enrollment instructions: http://www.vaemergency.gov/em-community/training/g290-basic-public-information-officer.

Reaching the Whole Community

Effective disaster preparedness means everyone must get involved, including underserved populations. Each person’s abilities and needs are different. A recent FEMA webinar on meeting the needs of Latino communities highlighted successful local efforts to start and continue preparedness discussions and to build inclusive disaster plans.
Some pointers include:

• Partner with trusted community leaders with whom community members have an established relationship
• Ensure language translations of preparedness materials are culturally appropriate
• Meet with individuals at places they already go and attend local cultural events to get to know community members better

Listo Virginia is a preparedness educational program for Spanish-speaking residents. If you would like help in taking the preparedness message those who speak Spanish in your community, call VDEM’s multicultural liaison, Karla Ramos, at (804) 897-6510 or write to her at karla.ramos@vdem.virginia.gov.

FEMA, American Red Cross Research Finds Importance in Usefulness, Emotion of Preparedness Messages

FEMA and the American Red Cross have published findings on research conducted July 27-28, 2012, in a workshop organized to improve preparedness messages in both the public and private sector.

The report found that a sense of empowerment through useful, easy-to-understand information and an emotionally engaging message that connected to individuals’ sense of responsibility for their own safety and the safety of family were consistent elements of successful campaigns. To download the complete report, visit http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=7124.

FEMA to Conduct Regional Collaboration Training in Stafford May 16

FEMA Region III will train emergency personnel as well as representatives from the private sector to strengthen collaboration in emergency preparedness across the regional community.

The free course will be held May 16 in Stafford. Registration is open until May 2 by creating an account at www.trecresourcecenter.org.

Best Practice – Elementary School Outreach

(Photo provided by Sherri Laffoon)

Chesterfield County Emergency Management, in cooperation with the Chesterfield Police Child Safety Officers, designed a program to teach school-aged children about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. The CSOs incorporated emergency preparedness into the STEPP (Success Through Education & Proactive Policing) program for all students in the third grade. This cooperative effort allows the county to reach some 5,000 students every school year.  Each CSO has his or her own creative way of presenting the material while informing the children about the types of disasters Chesterfield might experience and what they need to do to be prepared. The CSOs tie preparedness information back to several SOL criteria.

In recognition of this effective outreach program, Chesterfield County was awarded FEMA’s Honorable Mention in 2011 for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness-Individual & Community Preparedness Awards.

For more information, contact Sherri Laffoon, Chesterfield Emergency Management, at laffoons@chesterfield.gov or 804-796-7159.

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.

** Open to individuals designated by local EM, county administrator or VDEM regional coordinator as needing WebEOC access in performance of duties.

SuperStar Awards to Honor Volunteer Emergency Personnel Across Virginia

Volunteer emergency responders and preparedness trainers will be recognized with the SuperStar Awards for their contributions to the Commonwealth.

Out of 46 nominees, 11 winners were chosen in categories to reflect the diverse aspects of emergency management, from medical airlift activity during a disaster, to preparedness training for refugee resettlement. View the 2013 winners below, and visit vaemergency.gov for updates, including honorable mentions.

1. Most Outstanding Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer - Joseph Stacy, Chesapeake

2. Most Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Volunteer - Joan Minarik, Newport News CERT

3. Most Outstanding Volunteer in Police Service Volunteer - Shirley Patsel, Town of Vinton

4. Most Outstanding Fire Corps Volunteer - Rick Machado, Springfield Fire Corps

5. Most Outstanding Volunteer from Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster - Ivy West, Mercy Medical Airlift/Angel Flight Mid Atlantic, Virginia Beach

6. Most Outstanding Event/Activity - Disaster Preparedness Training for Refugee Resettlement Program hosted by Newport News CERT

7. Most Outstanding Regional Exercise - Peninsula Advanced Medical Operations Exercise hosted by Newport News CERT

8. Most Outstanding Local Exercise - Mass Medical Dispensing Exercise hosted by the Chesapeake Medical Reserve Corps

9. Most Outstanding Collaborative Event - Point of Distribution Exercise hosted by Newport News CERT

10. Most Outstanding Volunteer Trainer - Bill Meyer, Virginia Beach

11. Most Outstanding Training - Chesterfield County Office of the Senior Advocate

Award recipients were chosen by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia Citizen Corps, Dominion Virginia Power, Virginia 1st, Virginia’s Financial Industry Business Continuity Planning Coalition and Ready Virginia.