Jan. 27, 2010

Rivers throughout Virginia flood
Heavy rains and strong winds hit the Commonwealth Jan. 24-25, causing flash floods in western Virginia, where residents have experienced power outages and inundated roads. Shelters opened to host more than 20 residents, and local emergency responders conducted eight swift water rescues. Flood warnings are in effect for the Dan, James and Roanoke rivers.

Residents throughout Virginia should stay aware of current conditions in their area and listen for instructions from emergency officials. VDEM will continue to monitor the current situation as well as the approaching storm forecast to hit the Commonwealth this weekend.

Chief Deputy State Coordinator leaves VDEM
VDEM Chief Deputy State Coordinator Janet Clements is retiring after 30 years of serving the Commonwealth, including 25 years with VDEM. Clements joined VDEM in 1984 as a Public Information Officer; she was selected as VDEM’s Public Affairs Office Director in 1999. Gov. Mark Warner appointed Clements as VDEM Chief Deputy State Coordinator in 2002. During her tenure with the agency, she responded to 28 presidential disasters, including Hurricane Isabel, the terrorist attack on the Pentagon in 2001 and many other events. As Chief Deputy State Coordinator, Clements oversaw the Operations, Public Affairs, Training and Exercises, Local Support Services, Technological Hazards, and Preparedness divisions. She served as Virginia’s emergency management representative on the National Capitol Region’s Senior Policy Group for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and was a member of the Commonwealth Preparedness Working Group, and many other task forces and committees focused on strengthening Virginia’s all-hazard preparedness, response and recovery efforts. Gov. Bob McDonnell will appoint her successor.

November Nor’easter recovery update
Teams of state and federal emergency officials offered advice on Jan. 21 to residents in Newport News and Hampton recovering from the impacts of the November Nor’easter. The teams worked with Home Depot to provide ways to protect homes from storm damage, including flooding. The Joint Field Office in Newport News continues to work with localities hit hard by the storm to help them recover through the Public Assistance program. The JFO has scheduled meetings with private nonprofit organizations to explain the program, and the office plans to conduct door-to-door outreach to residents in the area to promote the National Flood Insurance Program.

In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved 115 loan applications for more than $3 million to homeowners, renters and businesses impacted by the storm. Jan. 25 was the deadline for submitting applications for SBA physical damage disaster loans. Anyone unable to meet the deadline should call the Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955. Late applications will be considered on an individual basis. Businesses applying for SBA economic injury disaster loans have until Aug. 25.

New emergency laws under consideration
Several bills that could impact emergency preparedness and response will be considered during the 60-day session of the 2010 General Assembly. Bill summaries, along with status and links to the General Assembly Web site, are available online at http://www.vaemergency.com/newsroom/10legsummary.cfm.

Medical Reserve Corps supports winter storm response
The Southwest Virginia Medical Reserve Corps supported local response efforts during the December snowstorm. MRC volunteers helped with shelter operations in Washington and Dickenson counties and the town of Lebanon by staying at shelters, providing on-call support and determining any additional medical needs of evacuees. Other MRC volunteers assisted with feeding emergency responders and helping other volunteer organizations such as the American Red Cross, emergency medical services and local departments of Social Services.

Virginia Emergency Management Symposium registration
Registration for the 2010 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium, “Heads Up: Changes in Emergency Management,” is available at http://www.vemaweb.org/content/conference/. The symposium offers opportunities to learn from a variety of experts and emerging leaders in public safety and emergency management. Topics include lessons learned from the November Nor’easter, the Washington D.C. Metro crash and the Rockbridge County plane crash. This year’s keynote speaker will be David Bissonette, emergency management coordinator for Erie County, N.Y., who will speak about the crash of Continental Collection Flight #3407.

Training...
Emergency Management Accreditation Program training at the Emergency Management Institute
EMAP Assessor training (E124)
March 18-19 and Sept. 2-3
The Emergency Management Accreditation Program is seeking experienced emergency managers to serve as on-site assessors during the accreditation process. Training is available for qualified students to learn EMAP standards, assessment procedures and assessor responsibilities. Among other qualifications, candidates must have five years’ experience in an emergency management position and experience in at least one actual emergency.

EMAP Accreditation/Assessment Manager Orientation (E123)
March 15-16 and Aug. 30-31
This class will teach state and local emergency managers about the Emergency Management Accreditation Program, EMAP standards and how to prepare their programs for assessment and accreditation.

More information about both classes is available at http://www.emaponline.org/.

Localized training from Texas Engineering Extension Service
As part of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, Texas Engineering Extension Service offers special homeland security courses funded by the National Homeland Security Training Program. Tuition in these courses, for qualified participants, is paid by the federal government.

There are several courses available that can be localized for communities throughout the Commonwealth. Courses include:

• Incident Management/Unified Command (MGT-313)
• Advance Incident Management/Unified Command (MGT-344)
• EMS Operations and Planning for WMD (PER-211)
• WMD / Terrorism Incident Defensive Operations for Emergency Responders (PER 212)
• Medical Preparedness and Response to Bombing Incidents

For more information and to request this training for your locality, contact Ken Clark at (804) 897-6500, ext.6572.

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.

Produced by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, Virginia 23236