Sept. 24, 2008
A natural gas pipeline ruptured and exploded in Appomattox County Sept. 14, destroying two homes, damaging four others and injuring five people. Local responders evacuated about a dozen homes in the immediate area. At the county's request, VDEM's Tactical Support Unit responded to the scene to provide interoperable communications. The Virginia Department of Transportation deployed personnel and equipment to assist with traffic control and to inspect nearby roads. The Virginia Department of Health is working with Appomattox County to assess well water. VDEM Hazardous materials officers worked with U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration officials to respond and investigate. Williams Energy, which operates the pipeline, is working with contractors and federal agencies to provide long-term recovery assistance to affected families. The cause of the rupture is under investigation.
VDEM performs survey of localities
VDEM is asking local emergency responders to complete a 34-question online survey to assess the performance of selected agency divisions. The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PiL2_2bBXcxXOJ5HqTGwQU9Q_3d_3d.
DHS performs Special Events Data Call
The Department of Homeland Security has launched its annual Special Events Data Call in an effort to collect a comprehensive list of scheduled special events for 2009. The Virginia Fusion Center is asking each locality to submit one comprehensive list of special events scheduled to take place in their jurisdictions and provide it to the VFC no later than Oct. 3. More information is available through the VFC helpdesk at vfc@vsp.virginia.gov.
Training Updates
FEMA Releases Updated Incident Command System courses
FEMA recently issued revised versions of ICS-300 Intermediate and ICS-400 Advanced, consolidating the previous separate programs utilized by the National Fire Academy, the Emergency Management Institute and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The new set of courses will be a pilot program during September and October for VDEM adjunct ICS instructors; full implementation will take place in December.
VDEM launches the Knowledge Center
VDEM's Office of Training & Exercises will begin to use a new learning management system known as the Knowledge Center on Nov. 1. This new online system is a comprehensive aid for students to register for classes, maintain their transcript and print certificates. Entries for previous VDEM and Emergency Management Institute course attendance is currently being uploaded to the system. In addition, the Knowledge Center will host complete online courses, pre-course activities and online exams.
Anyone who has attended or plans to attend VDEM training programs should register with the Knowledge Center at https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem. Those who are not state employees should select "Dept of Emergency Management" as the training agency. Registration for hazardous materials, search and rescue and other VDEM training will be available through the Knowledge Center in the future.
Contact the Knowledge Center Administrator at lms@vdem.virginia.gov for more information.
Sponsored ICS Instructor Updates
VDEM will conduct four workshops to update sponsored ICS instructors during October. These updates are for previously authorized instructors who have taken the VDEM or Emergency Management Institute ICS Train-the-Trainer course. Updates will focus on recent changes in the ICS curricula and introduce VDEM’s new learning management system known as the Knowledge Center.
Any sponsored ICS instructors who have not received notification about the updates should contact Ken Clark at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6572 or at ken.clark@vdem.virginia.gov or Lee Bennett at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6568 or at lee.bennett@vdem.virginia.gov. OTE will schedule future ICS Train-the-Trainer courses as needed to meet local and regional needs.
2008 Coordinator's Briefings move to a one-day format
This year's Coordinator's Briefings will be a one-day event instead of the two-day event VDEM had originally planned due to current budget constraints. These briefings are informative sessions designed specifically for local emergency management directors, coordinators and deputy coordinators. Local elected officials and state agency staff are also invited to attend. The briefings will be in Blacksburg on Oct. 29, Hampton on Nov. 5 and Staunton on Nov. 19. The registration deadline for the first briefing is Oct. 8.
Registration and lodging information are available through VDEM's online Training Calendar at http://www.vaemergency.com/train/calendar_course.cfm?id=10.
HSEEP Training Course replaces HSEEP Mobile Training Course
FEMA's Emergency Management Institute is replacing the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program Mobile Training Course with the HSEEP Training Course. The new classes are L-146, HSEEP Training Course (3 days) and L-147, HSEEP Training Course and Train-the-Trainer Course (3.5 days).
The HSEEP Training Course is available through residence instruction at EMI, through the Department of Homeland Security Direct Support program or through VDEM. All students will receive the EMI Certificate of Completion and the course will appear on EMI transcripts. VDEM will no longer issue completion certificates for the training, and the agency is working with EMI to ensure that students who took the HSEEP Mobile Training Course will maintain course credit.
VDEM's Office of Training and Exercise will validate all HSEEP Training Course instructors. For more information, contact Exercise Program Manager Brittany Schaal at (804) 897-6500.
VDEM distributes student materials on CD
Due to state budget reductions and increased program demands, VDEM's Office of Training & Exercises will give students CD with all related student manuals, program resources and reference materials previously unavailable as handouts. The new CDs will allow students to read ahead prior to attending related courses and to download, revise and customize course materials to meet local response needs. OTE began distributing student CDs with the pilot ICS programs and will begin distribution for other courses in the near future.
HSEEP Training Curriculum Updates
FEMA's Emergency Management Institute and the National Exercise Division are updating, revising and developing all four levels of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program training curriculum. Over the next 12 months, EMI and NED will implement several changes, such as
- Revising the existing IS-139 (Exercise Design) course materials to produce an Exercise Design and Development Course that is HSEEP compliant.
- Producing a facilitator's guide and student materials for a revised G-139 (Exercise Design and Development) field course.
- Revising the existing IS-140 (Exercise Conduct) course materials to produce a new independent study version.
For a complete list of curriculum updates, contact Exercise Program Manager Brittany Schaal at (804) 897-6500.
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 Shank at (804) 897-6510 or by e-mail at pio@vdem.virginia.gov.
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by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, Virginia 23236