Nov. 19, 2008
Winter Preparedness Week is Nov. 30-Dec. 6
The Ready Virginia public education campaign has created a central resource for winter safety information from Virginia state agencies and volunteer organizations at http://www.ReadyVirginia.gov. Several agencies and organizations have joined together under the Ready Virginia banner, including the Virginia departments of Emergency Management, Fire Programs, Social Services and Transportation, as well as the American Red Cross and the National Weather Service. Information includes heating safety, generator safety, fire safety tips, winter driving guidelines, types of winter weather advisories and how to respond to them, winter preparedness information for kids, and the VDSS energy assistance program for low-income Virginians. In addition, public service announcements recorded by Gov. Tim Kaine and links to Ready Virginia partner Web sites are available on the site. Ready Virginia is a year-round effort to encourage Virginians to take three steps to preparedness for any hazard: get a kit, make a plan and stay informed.
NRC survey covers nuclear accident response strategies
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has published survey results that address how to protect the public during a nuclear power plant accident. The survey includes focus groups and telephone interviews with people who live in Emergency Planning Zones around reactor sites.
According to the survey, a majority of the residents living in EPZs:
- Were generally well informed about what to do in a nuclear power plant emergency
- Remembered receiving emergency response information from the nuclear power plant and kept it readily accessible
- Recalled receiving information about evacuation and sheltering
- Agreed they would evacuate, shelter-in-place or monitor for more information, if directed to do so
- Agreed they would support a staged evacuation, during which some residents would shelter while others would evacuate.
The survey also found that many parents will get their children from school even when told they were already being evacuated and that many "special needs" residents who don't live in special facilities had not registered for evacuation assistance.
Based on the results of the survey, the NRC, in partnership with FEMA, is revising guidance for protective action strategies for severe accidents at nuclear power plants.
The full report, titled, "Review of NUREG-0654, Supplement 3, Criteria for Protective Action Recommendations for Severe Accidents," is available at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/contract/cr6953/vol2/.
Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant
VDEM is now accepting applications for the FY09 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness planning grant. This year, more than $112,000 is available to localities for use in:
- developing emergency plans
- conducting commodity flow assessments
- assessing the need for a regional hazmat response team
- conducting a local response capability assessment
- conducting drills and exercises
- appointing technical staff to support the planning effort
Training costs such as instructor salaries, employee backfill, course books and travel are not authorized under this planning grant. A 20 percent match is required.
As in past years, this grant is awarded on a first come, first serve basis, and funding will go to as many jurisdictions as possible.
Applications are due to VDEM by Dec. 15, 2008. The FY09 HMEP grant application is available at http://www.vaemergency.com/grants/grantDetails.cfm?desiredGrantID=41. For more information, contact Hazardous Materials and Terrorism Planning Branch Manager Randy Francis at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6585 or randy.francis@vdem.virginia.gov.
Regional Training and Exercise Improvement Planning Workshops
Emergency managers are invited to attend the Training and Exercise Improvement Planning Workshops taking place in November and December 2008. The workshops allow participants to review the preceding year's exercises and real-world after action reports and improvement plans and to develop a more cohesive Multi-Year Training and Exercise Plan. Participants will:
- Combine priorities from jurisdictions, regions and the Improvement Plan into a single priority list, and develop associated Target Capabilities for each priority.
- Provide a roadmap to begin training and exercise elements that will encompass those priorities.
Meetings are Dec. 1 (Region 3 and Region 5), Dec. 8 (Region 6), Dec. 9 (Region 4) and Dec. 12 (Region 1). Region 2 held its meeting Nov. 3.
For more information about these meetings, contact your local emergency manager or regional coordinator. A directory of local EMs is available at http://www.vaemergency.com/library/directories.
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.
Produced
by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, Virginia 23236