Virginia Department of Emergency Management, EM UPDATE, Issued Biweekly for the Virginia Emergency Management Community

May 20, 2009

2 tornadoes confirmed in Russell County
The National Weather Service has confirmed that two tornadoes hit southwest Virginia on May 8. An EF-0 tornado touched down northwest of Lebanon, Va., with 65-mph wind speeds, knocking down trees and power lines. An EF-2 tornado touched down north-northeast of Lebanon, with 125-mph wind speeds, uprooting nearly 100 trees and causing moderate damage to 150-year-old home. No one was injured.

Hurricane and flood season brings with it an increased chance for tornadoes. Families and businesses can prepare by taking advantage of Virginia’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, May 25-31. A list of tax-exempt items and detailed preparedness information are available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

Emergency alert system in place for National Capital Region
Residents in the National Capital Region can now sign up for a free emergency alerting service called Capitalert. The service offers emergency messages from 17 local governments that operate their own emergency alert system so that subscribers can choose the geographic area they are interested in or control the type of alerts they receive, including:

  • Major emergencies, like terrorism or natural disasters
  • Severe weather
  • Severe traffic
  • Amber alerts
  • School and government closings

Users can choose to receive the text messages by cell phone, BlackBerry or PDA, pager, or e-mail. Alerts can be sent to more than one device.

More information and registration are available at http://www.capitalert.gov/index.html.

VDEM to host the Certified Floodplain Manager’s Exam
VDEM will host the state Certified Floodplain Manager’s Exam on Wednesday, June 24 at 1 p.m. The Association of State Flood Plain Managers’ CFM® certification program recognizes continuing education and professional development that enhance the knowledge and performance of local, state, federal and private sector floodplain managers. If you are interested in taking the exam, please contact Debbie Messmer by e-mail at debbie.messmer@vdem.virginia.gov. More information about ASFPM is available at http://www.floods.org/.

VEMC presentations posted online
VDEM has added a new section to its Web site that features the 2009 Virginia Emergency Management Conference, “It happened... what next?” held March 31 – April 3 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. More than 300 public safety educators, emergency management professionals, first responder, Citizen Corps members and volunteers attended. VDEM and the Virginia Emergency Managers Association co-sponsor the annual conference.

Copies of most of the guest speakers’ Microsoft® PowerPoint presentations, along with the agenda and a list of speakers are available at www.vaemergency.com/newsroom/events/vema2009pres.cfm.

Training...
Emergency Planning for Special Needs Populations
 This course uses a strategic functional planning approach to special needs planning, emphasizing the role of emergency management and providing examples of best practices, lessons identified, tools, resources and other support aids.

Topics covered include:

  • Intro to Special Needs Communities
  • Communications and Emergency Public Information
  • Sheltering and Mass Care
  • Evacuation and Transportation
  • Human Services, Medical Management and Congregate Settings
  • Recovery

The class is being offered at 34 sites across the Commonwealth on June 11, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration and prerequisites are available at https://va.train.org. FEMA and the Homeland Security Programs at West Virginia University have partnered with the Virginia departments of Aging, Health, Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, Rail and Public Transportation, and Social Services, as well as the Virginia State Police and VDEM to offer the training.

In addition, VDH is seeking 10 -12 individuals to serve as on-site course facilitators for this program. Facilitators will attend a one-day training workshop on June 9 in Richmond prior to the June 11 class. If interested in serving as a facilitator at a site in your area, please contact Suzi Silverstein at VDH: suzi.silverstein@vdh.virginia.gov.

Sport Event Risk Management Workshop

The Department of Homeland Security has identified professional and collegiate stadiums and arenas as potential targets for terrorist activity. The Sport Event Risk Management Workshop has been specially designed for NCAA institutions to help them develop university security action teams, which are composed of specialists from five distinct areas: campus police, athletic department, emergency management, fire/hazardous materials and emergency medical/health services. The workshop will be delivered to these key personnel via 80 regional workshops; training in the Commonwealth will be available at the University of Virginia’s Scott Stadium, June 9-10.

Emergency managers that have an NCAA institution in their areas are encouraged to participate; contact Center for Spectator Sports Security Management Project Manager Lauren Felder by e-mail at Lauren.Felder@usm.edu. More information about the workshop is available at www.sporteventsecurity.com/workshop.
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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 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