FEMA reorganization and funding
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced the first steps to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster response capabilities in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. These new measures are intended to increase FEMA's efficiency by improving logistics capabilities, enhancing customer service, improving the debris removal process and building more effective communications. Planned changes include:

• Tracking trucks carrying food, water, ice, blankets and other emergency supplies by satellite to ensure they arrive at disaster sites quickly and with enough equipment.
• Sending FEMA employees to emergency shelters and other temporary housing venues to register victims for aid, instead of relying on victims to register by phone or the Internet.
• Creating a database of already-approved private contracting firms from disaster regions to remove debris and provide services faster.
• Creating "reconnaissance teams" to report disaster conditions to Homeland Security and FEMA operation centers within hours, and improving communication channels to ensure the information quickly gets to the president and Cabinet-level officials.
• Hiring up to 1,500 new full-time employees as year-round coordinators.

To facilitate these changes, the Department of Homeland Security requested a 10 percent increase in FEMA funding in its budget request. Overall, DHS requested nearly $43 billion, a six percent increase over last year's funding. The increased funding will target five key areas: strengthening preparedness, border security, transportation and maritime security, information sharing and strengthening DHS. Emergency Management Preparedness Grants, however, will decrease by $15 million nationwide.

VERTEX 2006
The Virginia Emergency Response Team Exercise has been rescheduled from March 23 to April 27. The exercise will test the state's response to a large-scale disaster to include a significant electrical power outage. VERTEX is designed to develop training objectives, practical skills and coordination with supporting organizations. The exercise is mandated by the General Assembly and requires the participation of at least one locality in each region. VDEM is coordinating with state agencies and local governments to determine which localities will participate.

VOPEX results
Evaluators from the Federal Emergency Management Agency praised the performance of state and local governments in 47 locations during the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise conducted Feb. 7. VOPEX is conducted every year, alternating between Surry Power Station and the North Anna Power Station, and tests the ability of the station and state and local governments to respond to an emergency. This year's scenario started with an earthquake at the Surry Power Station that led to a General Emergency and an evacuation of surrounding areas. A total of 61 FEMA evaluators graded state and local emergency management officials on 265 separate criteria. Overall, evaluators identified six procedural and six planning issues for fine-tuning. FEMA will release a final report in May. For more information, contact Susan Binkley, VDEM radiological emergency preparedness planner, at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6591.

Post-Katrina stakeholders' meeting
More than 70 representatives from local and state governments and nonprofit organizations participated in a discussion on ways to improve Emergency Management Assistance Compact and evacuation/sheltering procedures in Virginia, post-hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The ideas generated during the meeting will be incorporated into short- and long-term planning. A VDEM Preparedness, Training and Exercises Division planning committee will use suggestions to develop guidance for sheltering and evacuation prior to the 2006 hurricane season and to expand the Hurricane Evacuation Plan to include rural population centers throughout the state. VDEM's Operations Division will use suggestions to review and revise EMAC procedures. VDEM would like to thank those who contributed their time and ideas. Meeting summaries will be available online later this month.

Updated NIMS resources
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Incident Management System Integration Center have updated tools available online to assist local, state and tribal governments in completing NIMS integration into emergency response plans. Available resources include:

• Ways to integrate NIMS into emergency operations plans and standard operating procedures at all levels of government,
• Training guidelines for Incident Command System instructors,
• FY06 NIMS training requirements,
• An outline of activities that each level of government must complete for full compliance, and
• The National Standard Curriculum: Training Development Guidance, which contains several training-related fact sheets.

These resources, among others, are available at www.fema.gov/nims.

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