Nov. 04, 2009

FEMA clarifies H1N1 Stafford Act guidelines
FEMA has published guidelines to help states evaluate the impacts and need for federal assistance for response and preparedness efforts related to the H1N1 flu outbreak. As with all declaration requests, FEMA uses a variety of evaluation criteria and factors. In the case of H1N1, there are four primary evaluation criteria:

• Whether the state has directed execution of its State Emergency Plan.
• Whether the requesting state has demonstrated that the incidence of influenza is, at a minimum, significantly higher than the state’s seasonal average.
• Whether the state can demonstrate that effective response to the pandemic event is beyond the capability of the state and affected local governments.
• Whether the state has identified specific direct federal assistance that is required to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster.

The president continues to reserve the right to approve all requests and agree or disagree with recommendations made for disaster declarations. Other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, also have authority to provide assistance to support jurisdictions during pandemic events. If an emergency declaration is declared, FEMA cannot duplicate assistance provided under the authority of another federal agency.

More information about direct federal assistance for H1N1 is available in the “Pandemic Influenza Fact Sheet,” available at http://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/index.shtm.

Bristol CERT receives award for National Preparedness Month outreach
The 2009 National Preparedness Month Challenge tracked NPM initiatives and events held in Region III states. Kevin France, Bristol Community Emergency Response Team Coordinator, will receive the “Bridge Builder Award” for his work with Food City. Bristol CERT partnered with the supermarket chain to have emergency preparedness public service announcements aired throughout September, and CERT volunteers assembled disaster supply kits with Food Club products for display. The outreach effort resulted in Bristol’s public safety officer being interviewed about NPM and emergency preparedness on a live television morning show. Bristol CERT is part of the Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee Citizen Corps Council. Region III states had executed a combined total of more than 503 events and initiatives.

Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant funds available
FY10 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation have been released to the Commonwealth. VDEM is accepting applications for the grant, which offers a total of $112,678 for planning efforts. VDEM has developed a more competitive grant process and a new application form, available at http://www.vaemergency.com/grants/grantDetails.cfm?desiredGrantID=41. Use of preceding years’ applications cannot be accepted. In addition, VDEM will no longer accept Local Capabilities Assessment Report completion projects for HMEP funds. Applications must be submitted to VDEM no later than Dec. 15.

Final invoices and closeout reports for FY09 HMEP grant awards must be received by Dec. 4. Any invoices received after that date cannot be considered, and grant funds will have to be returned to USDOT. For more information about the HMEP grant, contact Randy Francis, Hazardous Materials and Counterterrorism Planning Branch manager, at (804) 897-6500, ext. 6585 or randy.francis@vdem.virginia.gov.

New recovery Web site seeks input from local and state partners
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and DHS have launched a Web site that will allow federal disaster recovery officials to solicit public comments from state and local partners and the public. The new Web site, http://www.DisasterRecoveryWorkingGroup.gov, is a way for the newly formed Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group to allow stakeholders to submit ideas for disaster recovery, articulate objectives for recovery assistance going forward, identify examples of best practices, raise challenges and obstacles to success, and share thoughts, experiences and lessons learned. The Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group is comprised of more than 20 federal departments, agencies and offices, and its goal is to create a National Recovery Plan.

New anthrax protection guidance available for comment
DHS announced new proposed guidance for protecting the health of emergency responders during an anthrax attack on a major U.S. city. The proposed guidance recommends protective measures such as personal protective equipment and decontamination and hygiene procedures for first responders, public health and medical professionals, skilled support personnel, essential workers in critical infrastructure sectors, certain federal and private sector employees, and volunteers.

The guidance comes in response to a 2008 Homeland Security Council tasking requiring the development of appropriate measures for responders in the immediate post-attack environment of an aerosolized anthrax attack. The guidance is also intended to support ongoing planning and preparation efforts for protecting responders engaged in environmental sampling and remediation, as well as others in responder roles.

The public will have until Nov. 27 to comment. The guidance is available at http://www.regulations.gov.

Frederick County full-scale exercise
Frederick County and VDEM conducted a full-scale exercise to give the county, schools and hospital the opportunity to work through a mass casualty scenario caused by criminal intent. The scenario included a bleacher collapse during a high school basketball game, and required the emergency operations center, joint information center, hospital and sheriff’s office to respond and investigate. This was the first time Frederick County’s stand-alone EOC, completed more than two years ago, was fully activated and tested.

A total of 206 participants, controllers, evaluators and observers represented Fauquier, Frederick, Paige, Shenandoah and Warren counties; Frederick and Warren County Public Schools; Virginia Department of Health, Virginia State Police and VDEM; Valley Health Systems and the Top of Virginia Chapter of American Red Cross.

Training...
Upcoming VDEM training courses
Due to budgetary constraints, VDEM must cancel a class if a minimum of 15 students have not enrolled two weeks before the class begins. Sign up early.

VDEM’s Learning Management system Knowledge Center provides information and registration for each class. Students must create an LMS account (a one-time process) in order to enroll. Step-by-step registration instructions are provided on the LMS login page at https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external/. Assistance is available from VDEM’s Office of Training and Exercises at lmshelp@vdem.virginia.gov or (804) 897-6500, ext. 6557.

The table below lists VDEM courses for the next quarter.

2010 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium dates announced
The 2010 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium, formerly the Virginia Emergency Management Conference, is scheduled for March 31 – April 2, 2010 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Va. The theme will be “Heads Up: - Eye-Opening Experiences and Changes in Emergency Management.” The symposium will include traditional breakout workshops coupled with new training opportunities. Tentative sessions include Intro to HAZUS, WebEOC Overviews, Legislative Info 101, and Legal Concerns for Emergency Managers. Visit http://www.vemaweb.org for additional information; registration will open soon.

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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