Nov. 22, 2006 -- EM Update


Nov. 22, 2006
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program Grants Up to $100 million is now available to fund cost-beneficial structural mitigation projects and hazard mitigation plan development through the nationally competitive 2007 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program. Eligible applicants include local and state governments, state agencies and Virginia public colleges and universities. Although private nonprofit organizations and private colleges and universities are not eligible, an eligible local or state government may serve as that project's sponsor. VDEM must receive applications by 5 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2007. Application forms, guidance documents, funding caps and eligibility criteria are available online. School emergency planning Lessons Learned Information Sharing is seeking information about school emergency planning for a variety of hazards, including accidents, kidnappings, natural disasters, shootings and terrorism. Submitted after-action reports, documents, templates, plans, related links, recent news and upcoming conferences will be available on LLIS.gov to help local managers develop effective school emergency plans. The site contains "For Official Use Only" and sensitive information through encryption, applicant verification and usernames/passwords. COOP planning manual and toolkit win awards VDEM's Continuity of Operations Planning Manual received an Honorable Mention Media Award from the International Association of Emergency Managers. The manual serves as a standard for state agencies and localities to use in developing local COOP plans. The Emergency Management Accreditation Program also recognized the manual and its seven-phased process as a best practice. In addition, the Continuity of Operations Planning Toolkit won an Honorable Mention Media Award. The toolkit is an online resource offering training videos and training slides in PDF format; the planning manual, with worksheets and templates; information for additional funding toward planning; and an activities overview of the COOP steering committee. The awards recognize and encourage interagency cooperation in keeping individuals and communities safe from both natural and man-made disasters. Eligible programs are ongoing multi-agency efforts in the U.S. and Canada that are primarily focused on disaster and/or terrorism mitigation, prevention, response, and/or recovery. Entries are judged on the extent to which their collaborative efforts demonstrate results in disaster or terrorism preparedness. Greene County designated "StormReady" The National Weather Service recognized Greene County in its "StormReady" program, adding the city to its list of more than 900 qualified localities in the United States. In the Commonwealth, the county joins the StormReady cities of Chesapeake, Danville, Hampton, Newport News and Virginia Beach and the counties of Fairfax, Gloucester, Loudoun and Prince William. Several other localities within Region 2 are also in the process of getting their communities StormReady. The voluntary program encourages emergency planners to develop severe weather and flood response plans using a grassroots approach in order to meet standards set forth by the NWS with state and local emergency managers. The standards include establishing a 24-hour warning point or emergency operations center, conducting community outreach seminars, developing response plans that include exercises and training weather spotters. New VDEM hurricane planner Patricia Chappell has been chosen to serve as a Hurricane Preparedness Planner in VDEM's Preparedness, Training and Exercises Division. Previously, Tricia worked as an emergency planner for the city of Chesapeake and as a VDEM Reservist. Training... National Search and Rescue School The U.S. Coast Guard and the U. S. Air Force conduct this five-day course, a comprehensive look at inland search theory and its application to land and air searches in the wilderness for missing persons and aircraft. Instructors use classroom lessons and practical, tabletop exercises. The course is designed for search managers in federal, state and local emergency services and law enforcement, Civil Air Patrol, and international and volunteer SAR agencies. The registration deadline for the first class is tomorrow, Nov. 23. For more information, prerequisites and the course schedule, visit VDEM's online training calendar. Public Safety Response to Terrorism online request First responder organizations throughout the state can now request PSRT classes online. The free, Virginia-specific PSRT Awareness Level, Management Considerations, Tactical Considerations and Hazmat Team Operations classes are available year-round, and some fulfill continuing education credit. VDEM can schedule classes to meet each organization's needs, and students can use Homeland Security Grant Program funds to facilitate attendance. For more information, contact Ken Clark in VDEM's Terrorism Training Program at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6572.
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EM Update is the best way to communicate best practices and to get a heads up on issues that might affect you. Articles include case studies, cost/resource-saving local programs, examples of partnerships and regional cooperation and recognition of emergency managers who receive awards and honors in the field. Please don't hesitate to contact the editor whenever you have a project that might benefit localities or want to highlight an important issue concerning Virginia's emergency response community. Contact Jolie Brendlinger at (804) 897-6510 or by e-mail at pio@vdem.virginia.gov.
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