NOAA hurricane forecast intensifies
The National Weather Service updated its 2005 hurricane season forecast, increasing its prediction to 21 tropical storms and 11 hurricanes. Forecasters point to atmospheric conditions and warm ocean temperatures for the already record-setting nine named tropical storms in June and July alone. If this year's hurricane season produces the forecasted 21 tropical storms, the previous record of 19 tropical storms set in 1995 will be broken. The previous 2005 forecast called for 15 tropical storms and nine hurricanes. Colorado State University's Dr. William Gray echoed the NWS forecast, predicting 20 tropical storms and 10 hurricanes.

Threat level for mass transit lowered to Yellow
The threat level advisory was lowered in Virginia on Aug. 12 from Orange, or "high," to Yellow, or "elevated." The threat level had been at Orange since July 7, in response to terrorist attacks on London's Underground subway system and a city bus. The increased threat level applied to the Commonwealth's railway system, but not to its highways, bridges or tunnels. During the "high" threat level, depending on the type of transportation, bomb-sniffing dogs searched passengers and their belongings, police increased their presence at stations and depots, and signal and communication systems were checked more often.

Newport News chosen for grant test case
Newport News, Va. is one of seven localities nationwide that won a grant to teach terrorism preparedness to the poor. The city's Office of Human Affairs will use $10,000 - $20,000 from a Community Action Partnership grant and $10,000 from the city to bolster readiness among low-income residents for a terrorist attack. The program will reach out to poor and homeless communities while ensuring that emergency preparedness authorities include low-income residents in their planning. Locations for the test cases were chosen based on their proximity to both potential terrorist targets and low-income communities.

Terrorism information tools
In addition to the Lessons Learned Information System and the Responder Knowledge Base, the DHS Office of Domestic Preparedness has developed other tools for emergency responders to better prepare them for terrorist attacks.

• The System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders Program provides reliable, unbiased performance and cost information to better select, procure, use and maintain equipment.
• The Terrorism Knowledge Base offers responders information about terrorist groups, attacks and legal action against them. TKB offers access to over 35 years of international terrorism data, five years of worldwide domestic terrorism data, 20 years of terrorist indictments, GIS mapping capabilities and profiles of groups and leaders.
• The Terrorism Library is a reference service that archives 2,000 books, 1,100 reports and articles and 600 electronic resources. The library staff also monitors more than 30 electronic mailing lists on topics such as terrorism, emergency responders, emergency management and weapons of mass destruction. Call (405) 278-6311 or e-mail for information.

Study shows public distrust of emergency planners
Only 20 percent of the public think that emergency planners know much about their concerns and information needs during an emergency. Researchers at the Center for the Advancement of Collaborative Strategies in Health at the New York Academy of Medicine did a review of current plans to deal with a dirty bomb explosion and a smallpox attack at an airport. In the smallpox outbreak, only 40 percent of the population would go to a vaccination site because they are more concerned with the vaccine's impact than they are of catching smallpox. In the dirty bomb explosion, only 60 percent of the population would shelter-in-place for as long as officials told them because they don't want to be separated from their families. The study states "because current plans have been developed without the direct involvement of the public, they don't account for all of the risks people would face…even worse, the plans inadvertently create serious and unnecessary risks for millions of Americans." Several studies conducted nationwide over the past year have revealed similar findings.

New VEMA strategic plan
The Virginia Emergency Management Association is looking for feedback on the association's updated strategic plan, which will give the organization a structured plan of action. All members are encouraged to provide comments and ideas to VEMA's 2nd Vice President Hui-Shan Walker. A draft of the plan is available on VDEM's Web site.

Best practices...
Faith community outreach
The Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council has been training faith community leaders in home emergency preparedness this summer. The training, given through 10 workshops, is designed to introduce the county's "Ready...Pack...Go" campaign, which will launch in September. The campaign features educational materials that will be given to each faith leader to distribute in their communities. The workshops demonstrate home emergency supply kits, and demonstrate effective ways to promote emergency preparedness to faith communities. The Citizen Corps council is collaborating with the county's Community Interfaith Liaison Office, Office of Emergency Management, Office of Public Affairs, Department of Family Services and the American Red Cross.

Conferences...
Virginia Interoperable Communications
The 2005 Virginia Interoperable Communications Conference will be held Oct. 4-5 at the Ramada Plaza Resort in Virginia Beach. More conference information and online registration will be available next week at http://www.interoperability.publicsafety.virginia.gov/

Hazmat
The 22nd Annual Virginia Hazardous Materials Conference & Expo, Sept. 19-24 in Virginia Beach, Va. will feature more than 50 workshops, four preconference seminars, an exhibit hall, door prizes and a casino night. The Honorable George W. Foresman will speak. Registration is available online (deadline is Aug. 28).

Produced by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, Virginia 23236