EM Update: April 11, 2007


April 11, 2007
Enhanced mitigation plan approved Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s approval of Virginia’s new enhanced mitigation plan, the Commonwealth will now be eligible for more federal funds to lessen the impacts of future disasters. The approval increases funding for projects through the post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program from 15 percent of the total reimbursement to 20 percent. The enhanced mitigation plan demonstrates the Commonwealth’s ability to effectively manage an increased number of projects and funds at the state level. Localities must continue to adopt their own mitigation plans to be eligible for funds through HMGP and other mitigation funding programs, such as the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program and the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. FEMA performs gap analysis The Federal Emergency Management Agency is conducting a national gap analysis to determine the needs and capabilities in hurricane-prone localities, including 28 jurisdictions in Virginia. The surveys cover seven critical areas: evacuation, sheltering, temporary housing, medical, communications and fuel, debris, and commodity distribution. All remaining localities throughout Virginia will work with FEMA to assess their needs later this year. FEMA will use analysis results to improve response efforts at the federal level. Local emergency manager earns national award Jim Davis, VDEM emergency coordinator for Pittsylvania County, earned the Alan Clive Spirit and Service Award at the 2007 National Hurricane Conference this month in New Orleans. The Conference Committee on Health Care and Special Needs gives the annual award to individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership toward ensuring that emergency management is inclusive of all people. Davis’ work with local deaf residents includes providing weather alert radios with visual alarms and training them in emergency preparedness using sign language interpreters. Davis secured funding for the radios and interpreters from the Danville Lions Club; a Virginia Citizen Corps program grant also helped fund the interpreters. This is the second time the NHC has given this award. 2007 hurricane forecast Colorado State University has issued the April update of Dr. William Gray’s 2007 extended range forecast of Atlantic hurricane season activity. The update calls for a very active season and increases the number of named storms to 17, the number of hurricanes to nine and the number of intense hurricanes to five. The tropical meteorology research group from CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science issues seasonal hurricane forecasts in early December, April, June, August, September and October. Read the full text of the forecast: http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/2007/april2007. NIMSCAST upgrade The NIMS Integration Center has upgraded the online NIMS Capability Assessment and Support Tool. Formerly known as NIMCAST, NIMSCAST will reflect FY07 requirements and offer specific instructions on NIMS compliance. All existing accounts and passwords will remain valid, and all existing data previously entered will transfer to the new version of the system. NIMSCAST is a Web-based self-assessment tool designed to aid state, local and tribal organizations and jurisdictions in determining their capabilities and compliance against the requirements established in the National Incident Management System. NIMSCAST: http://www.fema.gov/nimcast/index.jsp. Conferences... New director, FEMA Region III, to speak at VEM Conference Jonathan Sarubbi, the new Region III director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will speak Thursday, April 19 at the Virginia Emergency Management Conference. Sarubbi, appointed to his current post in March, previously served as vice president of marine operations for the International Registries, Maritime and Corporate Administrators of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Prior to that, Sarubbi served for 26 years at the U.S. Coast Guard, directing strategic planning, day-to-day operations, training, exercises and logistics. More information about the conference, April 17-20 in Williamsburg, is available on VDEM’s Web site: http://www.vaemergency.com/newsroom/events/vema2007.cfm. Electronic registration is available on the Virginia Emergency Management Association’s Web site: http://www.vemaweb.org/. Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Forum Emergency planners, first responders and hospital managers are invited to attend the 2007 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Forum, May 22-24 in Charlottesville. The forum will include: Healthcare facility management during a disaster Recovery and rebuilding of the health care infrastructure in Mississippi and Louisiana Updates of Virginia emergency preparedness activities Hospital compliance with NIMS standards Healthcare system support from local, state and federal agencies The deadline for registration is May 7. Registration information and agenda are available online: http://www.vhha.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=150. Training... Disaster Damage Assessment Training Local government personnel and volunteers with specific responsibility for field damage assessments and recording damages in the field should attend Disaster Damage Assessment Training. The workshops will train personnel on the Federal Emergency Management Agency standard for conducting damage assessments. Morning sessions are devoted to damage assessment of residences and businesses; afternoon sessions are devoted to damage assessment of infrastructure. Although VDEM has completed training or closed registration in seven locations around the Commonwealth, additional workshops have been scheduled in Fredericksburg (May 22), Fairfax County (May 23), Winchester (May 24) and Norfolk (June 14). For more information and to register, visit VDEM’s Training Calendar at http://www.vaemergency.com/train/calendar_course.cfm?id=89. Please note that students must register separately for the morning and afternoon sessions. Although every effort will be made to register all who apply, it might become necessary to limit registration.
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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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