Dec. 17, 2008
VDEM's Preparedness Division has drafted a new, user-friendly Emergency Operations Plan template for local governments to help them develop and maintain an EOP.
The template offers a complete EOP outline with instructions and examples of items that may be applicable to different institutions. This template can assist localities with the planning process; localities should review and modify all items to fit their specific needs.
The template also highlights National Incident Management System elements to help localities develop a plan that can easily coordinate with other local government EOPs.
To create the templates, VDEM collaborated with a group of emergency planners from Augusta, Campbell, Page, Prince Edward and Rockbridge counties and the city of Virginia Beach.
The template is available at http://www.vaemergency.com/library/plans/local_eop.cfm.
2009 Ready Virginia Public Outreach Campaign Dates
Ready Virginia will conduct five public education campaigns in 2008. Each campaign will include new releases, updated Web site content on http://www.ReadyVirginia.gov and on http://www.vaemergency.com, and a proclamation from Gov. Tim Kaine.
- Tornado Preparedness Day: March 17, 2009 (statewide tornado drill at 9:45 a.m.)
- National Hurricane Preparedness Week: May 24-30, 2009
- National Preparedness Month: September 2009
- Fire Prevention Month: October 2009
- Winter Preparedness Week: Nov.29 - Dec. 5, 2009
Ready Virginia encourages emergency managers and volunteer organizations throughout the Commonwealth to help publicize these campaigns. More information about each campaign will be available as it approaches.
Homeland security degree offered in Martinsville
Virginia Commonwealth University and the New College Institute in Martinsville, Va. have partnered to offer a bachelor's degree in homeland security to students in southern Virginia. The curriculum covers theoretical and practical preparation for natural disasters, critical system failures and terrorist attacks. The 20-class, two-year program is for students who have completed either an associate degree or their first two years of general studies. In 2005, VCU was the first research university in the country to offer a bachelor's degree in homeland security and emergency preparedness. Faculty in VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs partnered with the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and VDEM to develop the program.
For more information, contact Jeff Fox in NCI's Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program at (276) 403-5622 or jcfox2@vcu.edu.
VEMC opens conference registration
Registration is now available for the 2009 Virginia Emergency Management Conference, "It Happened....What Next?" The keynote speaker will be Bill Read, director of the National Hurricane Center, who will provide an overview of the 2008 hurricane season from a meteorologist's perspective. Online registration for the conference, March 31 - April 3, is available at http://www.vemaweb.org.
NFIP moving to digital maps
The FEMA Map Service Center will discontinue production and distribution of paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps, Flood Hazard Boundary Maps and Flood Insurance Study reports. After Oct. 1, 2009, all flood maps and reports will be in digital format, except for the single paper copy provided to communities when their maps are updated. The Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 mandated the changeover. A fact sheet is available on the FEMA Web site at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3474.
2009 hurricane forecast issued
Colorado State University has issued their extended-range forecast for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season. The forecast calls for an above-average season with 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three intense hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5). The forecast uses a statistical prediction scheme that includes 58 years of past data, as well as an analysis of each CSU extended-range forecast issued for the last 16 years.
Communications guide for the fire service released
The United States Fire Administration has partnered with the International Association of Fire Fighters to provide an updated communications guide for fire service members to replace Fire Department Communications Manual - A Basic Guide to System Concepts and Equipment (FA-160). The new guide, Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service, provides up-to-date information on communications technology and discusses critical homeland security issues and concepts, such as SAFECOM, that did not exist when the original manual was first published. It also provides baseline familiarity with basic communications issues such as hardware, policy and procedures, and human interface.
The guide is available for download at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/media/press/2008releases/120108.shtm.
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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