August 12, 2009

Hurricane Camille’s 40th anniversary
Almost 40 years ago, the remnants of Hurricane Camille forever changed the lives of many Virginians and permanently altered the landscape of the Commonwealth. The storm also drastically changed emergency management in Virginia and throughout the country.

Prior to Camille, emergency officials focused on protecting Virginians from the effect of atomic bombs. The night of Aug. 19, 1969, changed that.

Camille was a weakening tropical depression when it entered Virginia, and no one was expecting the 12 to 27 inches of rain the storm dumped in just a few short hours. Water flowed down mountainsides, uprooting trees and hurling them through homes, businesses and vehicles. Landslides were so deep and deadly that they swept away entire families, communities and even a tractor-trailer that was never found.

Nelson County bore the brunt of the storm as 27 inches or more fell – an estimated 1.2 trillion gallons of water. Extensive river flooding affected Buena Vista, Lynchburg, Scottsville, Richmond and many other areas.

Camille left 153 dead in Virginia, more than 300 homes destroyed, 133 bridges washed out and damage of more than $140 million, an enormous amount for the time. President Nixon declared the state a disaster area.

VDEM is collecting memories of the storm and its aftermath and posting them to a special Web page. To contribute memories of Camille, visit www.vaemergency.com or write to VDEM Public Affairs Office, 10501 Trade Court, Richmond, VA 23236. Text and/or photos can be submitted.

NCR selects homeland security projects to fund
The National Capital Region has chosen projects to fund with the $58 million Urban Areas Security Initiative award to the NCR through the Homeland Security Grant Program. The goal is to strengthen the NCR’s ability to manage large, regional events. Funds will help to increase security at Metro stations, assist law enforcement agencies to share information, expand traffic monitoring, provide shelter to people with special needs and treat mass casualties.
Some of the funded projects include:

• Bridge, Tunnel and Metro Station Security ($4.7 million): Additional video cameras will be installed to monitor critical bridges and tunnels; more cameras for Metro stations across the region. These cameras will help officials to monitor crowds or traffic during events, as well as more closely look for suspicious activity.

• Law Enforcement Information Sharing ($9.03 million): Law enforcement information sharing system will be expanded, allowing officers to look up criminal records or other data from their cell phones or wireless devices. This system can only be used from police cars now, but mobile access will help officers during large events.

• Traffic Monitoring ($5.4 million): Traffic sensors will be installed along potential evacuation routes in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia, allowing officials to monitor traffic volume and speed. State and local traffic information systems also will be integrated, allowing the region to better manage traffic during a large event or evacuation.

• Shelter Supplies ($1.04 million): The region will improve its ability to shelter and care for people with special needs, pets and children. Additional staff will be trained to operate shelters for people with special needs, and the region will buy additional shelter supplies and equipment.

• Patient Tracking System ($1.5 million): The region will implement an initiative that allows emergency rooms to track the real-time location of ambulances from every hospital in the region. ERs also will be able to monitor the treatment capacities at every hospital. This program will help the 34 hospitals in the region to treat a surge of injuries or casualties following a disaster.
  

VDEM to host the Certified Floodplain Manager’s Exam
VDEM will host the state Certified Floodplain Manager’s Exam on Wednesday, Oct. 7 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/

2009 hurricane season forecast updated
Colorado State University has further reduced its 2009 Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Forecast due to the continuing development of El Niño. In the August update, CSU is calling for 10 named storms for the season, four hurricanes and two major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5). The tropical meteorology research group from CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science will update its forecast in September and October. Read the full text of CSU’s forecast: http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts.

FEMA announces VOPEX preliminary results
Evaluators from the Federal Emergency Management Agency praised the performance of state and local governments at 50 locations during the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise conducted Aug. 4. This year’s scenario led to a simulated General Emergency and an evacuation of surrounding areas. A total of 61 FEMA evaluators graded state and local emergency management officials on 321 separate criteria. FEMA's preliminary comments identified one “Area Requiring Corrective Action” and minor planning issues. FEMA will release a final report later this year. For more information about the exercise, contact Susan Binkley, VDEM radiological emergency preparedness planner, at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6591 or susan.binkley@vdem.virginia.gov.

VOPEX is conducted every year, alternating between the Surry and North Anna power stations, and tests the ability of the station and state and local governments to respond to an emergency. Multi-day drills occur every six years to address response procedures beyond the 10 miles immediately surrounding the power station.

Teen CERT Train-the-Trainer builds upon the basic Community Emergency Response Team curriculum and includes information and guidelines for teaching and implementing CERT for teenagers. Participants are given ideas and direction to maintain and sustain local Teen CERTs - such as partnering with local emergency management and securing ongoing financial and political support. The curriculum is not meant to replace those of previously established initiatives, rather it incorporates them in their entirety and places focus on increasing knowledge and skill development.

This course is for public safety, fire service, EMS, emergency management, security officers, any state/local agency or non-governmental organization, teachers or secondary educators who may be called upon to train or lead Teen CERT programs. Graduates are eligible for 2.2 continuing education units.

In addition to and CERT and CERT Train-the-Trainer courses, students should complete IS-100, IS-200, IS-700 and IS-800 prior to attending. Online versions of these classes are available online at http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp.

Online registration closes Aug. 31. Detailed information about the class is available online at http://www.vaemergency.com/train/calendar_course.cfm?id=91.

Low-cost DHS-certified training available
The National Center for Biomedical Research and Training at Louisiana State University offers DHS-certified courses covered by the NCBRT’s Homeland Security National Training Program Cooperative Agreement. As a DHS primary training provider, the NCBRT can offer this training at no direct cost to local agencies.

• Preparing Communities for Agroterrorism: Awareness-Level
• Prevention and Deterrence of Terrorist Acts – Law Enforcement Version
• Prevention and Deterrence – An Overview for all Disciplines
• Foundational Awareness of Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism
• Nurses on the Frontline: Preparing for Emergencies and Disasters
• Effects of Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism: Incidents on Mass Feeding
• Effects of Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism: Incidents on Bulk Distribution
• Effects of Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism: Incidents on Mass Sheltering
• Disaster Mental Health Considerations During a Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorist Incident

NCBRT offers classroom and online training. All classroom training is delivered at a local training facility. Contact the NCBRT at info@ncbrt.lsu.edu or (877) 829-8550 to schedule a course through VDEM, or visit www.ncbrt.lsu.edu to learn more about the NCBRT’s training opportunities.

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