Sept. 9, 2009

September is National Preparedness Month
2009 will mark the sixth anniversary of National Preparedness Month in September, when national, regional, state and local organizations will distribute educational information, host events and sponsor activities throughout the country to promote emergency preparedness.

Local governments or organizations that want to participate in National Preparedness Month can get Ready Virginia materials that promote personal preparedness, such as new Ready Virginia TV and radio public service announcements, newsletter articles, a Microsoft PowerPoint® presentation, brochures and magnets. Send requests to pio@vdem.virginia.gov.

Several Virginia counties, cities and state agencies are registered as National Preparedness Month Coalition Members. Any organization planning to participate in a National Preparedness Month event should register online at http://www.Ready.gov. More than 3,260 organizations registered their participation nationwide in 2008.

Colorado State University changes forecast format
Colorado State University’s tropical meteorology research group will issue 15-day forecasts approximately every two weeks until Oct. 19. These new 15-day forecasts have replaced the monthly forecasts that CSU has been issuing in recent years.

The Sept. 4 forecast calls for below-average activity for the next 15 days, a period that coincides with the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.

The next 15-day forecast will be issued on Sept. 19 for the Sept. 20 - Oct. 4 period, followed by a forecast issued on Oct. 4 for the Oct. 5 - 19 period. The final 15-day forecast for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season will be issued on Oct. 19 for the Oct. 20 - Nov. 3 period. All of these forecasts will be available online at http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts.

North Anna Power Station Exercise Tests Security Procedures
Dominion Virginia Power and VDEM will conduct a full-scale exercise on Sept. 10 at the North Anna Power Station to test preparedness and response procedures involving plant security. The exercise will involve Dominion Virginia Power personnel and nearly two dozen local, state and federal agencies, including the Louisa County Sheriff, Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Federal Bureau of Investigation, local fire and rescue squads, and other Louisa County emergency responders.

Residents should expect to see participating emergency response teams and their vehicles on the roads near the North Anna Power Station, as well as additional traffic on routes 208, 652 (Kentucky Sprints Road) and 700.

The Commonwealth also conducts the annual Virginia Operations Plan Exercise, or VOPEX, every year, alternating between the Surry and North Anna power stations. VOPEX tests the ability of the station and state and local governments to respond to an accident at the station.

National Capital Regional Leaders meet to discuss emergency preparedness
Gov. Tim Kaine met with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley on Sept. 1 to discuss coordination on emergency preparedness and response efforts in the National Capital Region. The meeting was held on the first day of National Preparedness Month and focused on situations that require a coordinated response, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism and public health crises, including the potential impact of H1N1 flu during this fall’s flu season.

Every year, the principal leaders of the NCR meet to discuss collaboration on preventing, preparing for and responding to incidents in the area. Since 2003, the NCR has received $335 million in DHS Urban Area Security Initiative grants for evacuation; shelter and decontamination; medical surge and mass care; exercise and training; information sharing; communications; and critical infrastructure protection.

Quadrennial Homeland Security Review
DHS is conducting the first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, a congressionally mandated, comprehensive review of homeland security that will guide DHS security policies, programs and missions for the next four years. Secretary Napolitano will provide her conclusions from the review to Congress in a final report by Dec. 31.

As part of the review, DHS is conducting a series of online dialogues. State and local governments, first responders, business leaders, academics, other policy experts and the public are invited to register, log on and participate.

First Dialogue: August 3-9
The first dialogue session presented the initial output generated by six QHSR study groups. Over 8,000 people from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and 68 other countries participated. The archived results are available at http://www.homelandsecuritydialogue.org/dialogue1.

Second Dialogue: August 31-September 9
The second dialogue ends today. Participants will prioritize and comment on proposed strategic mission objectives and discuss what must be done to achieve the objectives. To learn more go to: www.homelandsecuritydialogue.org.

Third Dialogue: September 28-October 4
The third dialogue will seek participants’ final review of the mission goals, objectives, key strategic outcomes, and final proposed enhancements to the two key processes.

State and local governments, first responders, business leaders, academics, other policy experts and the public are invited to register, log on and participate at www.homelandsecuritydialogue.org.

Training...

Anti-Terrorism Training For First Responders
Dec. 10 in Chesterfield
This class consists of two sessions, which will prepare emergency responders for bombing events. During the first session, students will become familiar with improvised explosive devices and explosive materials and train on critical response actions during pre-and post-detonation operations. The second session will provide training on suicide bombing threats. Students will become familiar with the types of devices used and techniques and tactics specific to a suicide bombing. Both sessions will cover actions that emergency responders can take to prevent and/or deter bombing attacks against targets in their communities.

Students must attend both sessions to receive credit. Online registration closes Nov. 13, 2009. For detailed course and registration information, visit http://www.vaemergency.com/train/antiterrorism_for_firstResponders.cfm.

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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