Jan. 13, 2010

Gov. Kaine requests federal assistance for winter storm recovery
Gov. Tim Kaine has requested federal disaster assistance through FEMA for costs associated with the severe winter storm that occurred Dec. 18-20, 2009 and the ensuing power outages. The assistance would reimburse state agencies and 40 localities for damage to public infrastructure, debris removal, related emergency services and snow removal costs.

Localities in the request include the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Caroline, Clarke, Craig, Fairfax, Frederick, Grayson, Greene, Hanover, Highland, King George, Louisa, Madison, Montgomery, Nelson, Orange, Page, Prince William, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Scott, Spotsylvania and Stafford, and the cities of Alexandria, Charlottesville, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas Park, Manassas, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton and Waynesboro.

The governor requested reimbursement for similar costs incurred in 10 localities, however, these localities did not experience the snowfall required to qualify for snow removal reimbursement. These localities may be eligible for other forms of reimbursement, and include the counties of Buchanan, Culpeper, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Tazewell and Wise; and the cities of Fredericksburg, Norton and Richmond.

The governor asked FEMA to consider the storm's impact in another 45 localities that did not meet the snowfall threshold, but nonetheless had significant snow removal costs.

Finally, the governor requested Hazard Mitigation Assistance for all Virginia localities. The Hazard Mitigation Assistance program helps local and state governments implement measures to reduce the impact of future disasters.

McDonnell announces Commonwealth Preparedness and Public Safety appointments
Governor-elect Bob McDonnell has appointed Terrie Suit to serve as Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness. McDonnell will keep the position as a Cabinet-level post. Suit is currently Government Affairs Director at Williams Mullen. Previously, Suit served in the Virginia House of Delegates and chaired both the General Laws Committee and the Virginia Housing Commission and served on the Commerce and Labor, Counties Cities and Towns, Education and Agriculture Committees. Prior to serving in the General Assembly, Suit served for three years as a gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Real Estate Board.

McDonnell appointed Marla Decker to serve as Virginia's Secretary of Public Safety. Since 2005, Decker has served as Deputy Attorney General of the Public Safety and Enforcement Division in the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia. In that position, Decker supervised and staffed Attorney General William C. Mims' anti-gang, anti-terrorism and crime prevention initiatives, responsibilities she has assumed for four Attorneys General. Decker also supervised the drafting of criminal legislation, developed and implemented training initiatives, and conducted community awareness events relating to gangs. In addition, Decker supervised criminal investigations and prosecutions.

Regional Preparedness Advisory Committee grant meetings scheduled
The Office of Commonwealth Preparedness and VDEM have scheduled a series of regional meetings to discuss national and Virginia priorities for DHS’ 2010 Homeland Security Grant Program. A brief grants management overview will be presented at the beginning of each meeting to discuss the grant process and new policies introduced by DHS. A meeting is scheduled in each of the seven Virginia homeland security regions during the month of January. Remaining meeting dates and locations, registration information, and agenda are available at http://www.vaemergency.com/grants/rpac_meetings2010.cfm (registration is required).

VDEM Watch Center year-end totals
As the central point of contact for the Commonwealth 24 hours a day, VDEM's Watch Center screens all information as it comes into the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and determines the appropriate action to take. The Watch Center routinely monitors telephone, fax, email, Virginia Criminal Information Network, EMnet, Instaphone, Warning Circuit or WebEOC messages and provides a comprehensive communications and warning service to all local governments, state agencies, volunteer organizations and emergency responders. During 2009, the Watch Center coordinated response efforts for more than 1,950 hazardous material incidents, 13 radiological shipments, 566 Air Medevac missions and 126 search and rescue events. More information about the Watch Center is available at http://www.vaemergency.com/about/structure/ops/veoc.cfm.

CERT volunteers help neighbors in Arlington
During the recent snowstorm, approximately 40 Arlington County Community Emergency Response Team volunteers answered requests from the Arlington County Office of Emergency Management to help clear snow from nearly 100 fire hydrants, bus stops and storm drains. In addition, Arlington CERT Volunteer Citizen Liaison Cynthia Kellams wrote an editorial published online in the Sun Gazette: http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2010/01/11/arlington/opinion/acmt742c.txt. The editorial urges residents to be prepared to support themselves for at least three days after an emergency by collecting emergency supplies, having a plan in place to evacuate and taking a CERT class.

November nor-easter deadlines
Flood insurance deadline extended
Virginians who sustained flood damages from the November nor'easter and who had National Flood Insurance Program policies have an additional 15 days to file their claims. Policyholders usually have 60 days from the date of damage to file claims; the extension gives policyholders a total of 75 days from the date of damage to file. The extension is being granted in recognition of the difficulties that NFIP policyholders may have encountered while trying to schedule meetings with adjusters and contractors during the holiday season. To be eligible for a flood insurance payment, policyholders need to have experienced direct physical loss by or from flooding resulting from the November nor'easter, and they need to have had a policy in effect at the time of the loss. Additional information about the NFIP is available from local insurance agents, online at http://www.floodsmart.gov/ or by calling 1-800-638-6620.

SBA loan deadlines for private nonprofit organizations
The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds eligible private nonprofit organizations that the deadline to submit disaster loan applications for physical property damage caused by the November nor'easter is Feb. 8. The deadline to submit applications for economic injury loans is Oct. 9.

PNPs located in the following localities are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA: the counties and cities of Chesapeake, Halifax, Hampton, Isle of Wight, King and Queen, Newport News, Norfolk, Northampton, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Surry and Virginia Beach. Eligible PNPs are those that provide non-critical services such as food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. More information is available at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Hurricane watches and warnings change
The National Hurricane Center has added 12 hours to the forecast period in its tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings. The additional time will allow individuals, emergency response partners and the private sector to better prepare for a storm. Advancements in track forecasts have made the additional time possible. These changes will go into effect for the 2010 hurricane season, which begins on June 1.

New tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings:

Tropical Storm Watch: A tropical storm watch is issued when tropical storm conditions, including winds from 39 to 73 mph, pose a possible threat to a specified area within 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Warning: A tropical storm warning is issued when tropical storm conditions are expected to affect a specified area within 36 hours or less.

Hurricane Watch: A hurricane watch is issued for a specified area when hurricane conditions, including sustained winds of 74 mph or greater, are possible within 48 hours.

Hurricane Warning: A hurricane warning is issued for a specified area when hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. In coastal or near coastal areas, a hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continues, even though the winds may have subsided below hurricane intensity.

More information about the new watches and warning times is available at http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100105_nhc.html.

New 1-inch hail criteria
The National Weather Service has increased the hail criteria for issuing a severe thunderstorm warning. In addition to the criteria for 58 mph wind gusts or greater, predicted hail size must be 1 inch in diameter or larger. Previously, the warning criteria were 58 mph winds and 3/4-inch hail or larger.

While the severe thunderstorm warning criteria is now 1 inch, NWS is still required to report hail less than one inch in diameter in its monthly Storm Data summary. Local emergency managers and associated 911/Emergency Communications Centers are asked to report thunderstorm related phenomena (large hail, wind damage, tornadoes, funnel clouds), as well winter storm hazards (snow/ice accumulations, coastal flooding, etc.) to their local NWS offices.

VEMA accepting scholarship applications
The Virginia Emergency Management Association is accepting applications for the "Addison E. Slayton Jr. Scholarship," which promotes the importance of emergency management education. The scholarship will fund at least one college student each year and provide a one-year membership in VEMA. Funds are raised through VEMA-sponsored activities, outside donations and academic partnerships. Applicants must be a Virginia resident as classified by their college or university and currently enrolled in an accredited college or university with a declared a major or minor in Emergency Management or Disaster Science and Management. Completed applications must be received by the VEMA Executive Director no later than March 1. Scholarship winners will be announced at the annual symposium, held in Hampton, March 30 - April 2, 2010. Applications and specific information on eligibility requirements are available at http://www.vemaweb.org.

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.

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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