Feb. 24, 2010

Federal declaration approved for December snowstorm
President Barack Obama has granted Gov. Bob McDonnell’s request for federal assistance to state and local governments in Virginia to help with recovery from the severe winter storm that occurred Dec. 18-20, 2009.

The declaration makes FEMA’s Public Assistance Program available to cover eligible government and certain nonprofit costs for snow removal, damage to critical infrastructure, debris removal and related emergency services. Eligible localities are the cities of Alexandria, Charlottesville, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, Staunton and Waynesboro and the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Caroline, Fairfax, Grayson, Greene, Hanover, Highland, Louisa, Madison, Montgomery, Nelson, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rockbridge, Spotsylvania and Stafford.

In addition, several localities were approved for damage to critical infrastructure, debris removal and related emergency services, but not snow removal. Those localities include the counties of Buchanan, Culpeper, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott and Wise and the city of Norton.

FEMA indicated that additional localities may be added at a later date after further evaluation. Federal disaster assistance funds are awarded through a reimbursement process that can take months, and in some cases, years.

In addition to the Public Assistance Program, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds were approved for the entire Commonwealth. The Hazard Mitigation program provides funds for government projects that help reduce disaster risks by protecting homes and businesses against future damage.

Virginia did not receive federal assistance for individuals or businesses. The Commonwealth did not ask for that type of assistance since there was a high rate of insured property in the affected area.

Virginia applies for EMAP reaccreditation
Virginia has invited a team of Emergency Management Accreditation Program assessors to examine the Commonwealth’s emergency management program in order to achieve reaccreditation. When Virginia received EMAP accreditation in 2005, it was the third state in the country to do so. To date, 26 programs have received full accreditation through EMAP, an independent professional organization that establishes credible standards in emergency management. Accreditation involves demonstrated and documented compliance with 63 national standards in areas such as planning and procedures; resource management; training; exercises, evaluations and corrective actions; and communications and warning. EMAP accreditation lasts for five years; VDEM will reapply in 2015.

IFLOWS network helps emergency managers assess real-time risks
Patrick County Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Allen used Integrated Flood Observing and Warning System rain gauge alerts to determine the need to evacuate residents during heavy rainfall in January. The software allows emergency management personnel and communications centers to receive automated alerts on a dedicated IFLOWS computer from the rain and stream gauge network. Upon notification that an alert had been received in the communications center, Allen went to the potential flood site to assess the rising water, and ordered an evacuation of the area. In addition, Allen was able to pass this critical warning to the neighboring county of Surry in North Carolina.

IFLOWS is a system of computers, communications equipment, rainfall and stream level sensors and specialized software that can provide early warning to areas that are susceptible to flash flooding. In all, there are 284 sensor sites within the Virginia IFLOWS network; more than 80 percent send alerts directly to local emergency management personnel.

Commission considers children’s emergency services database
The National Commission on Children and Disasters is considering how a national database could help first responders care for the unique needs of children during catastrophes. The commission is assessing whether existing platforms can provide privacy and protect sensitive information. Commissioners believe that a database could fill a gap in comprehensive planning for children’s care during large-scale disasters, such as pediatric emergency care, food and shelter arrangements and equipment, schooling, and assistance to parents or other caregivers.

Flood insurance and mitigation save taxpayer dollars
The number of flood insurance policies in force in southeastern Virginia increased by approximately 45 percent in between Hurricane Isabel in 2003 and Tropical Depression Ida and the Nor’easter in 2009. As a result, nearly 80 percent of the damages experienced during the November Nor’easter were covered by insurance, saving taxpayers the need to make FEMA’s Individual Assistance program available in the area. The increase in flood insurance coverage shows that residents are aware of their flood risk and have taken appropriate steps, which also include adding freeboard requirements in community regulations. Freeboard is a safety factor that adds height to mitigation efforts and determines the level at which a structure’s lowest floor must be elevated or floodproofed. Freeboard reduces flood damage and results in significantly lower flood insurance rates due to lower flood risk.

More information about flood insurance and mitigation efforts are available on FEMA’s Web site: http://www.fema.gov/mitigationbp/brief.do?mitssId=7170.

Virginia Emergency Management Symposium: Keynote speaker
This year’s keynote speaker will be David Bissonette, emergency management coordinator for the town of Clarence in New York, where Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed into a private home as it approached Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The crash killed all passengers on board and an occupant of the house and caused an intense fire that required the evacuation of surrounding homes. Bissonette coordinated response efforts, including fire ground support, evacuation, recovery and investigation.

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.

FEMA releases draft National Disaster Recovery Framework
FEMA has released a draft version of the National Disaster Recovery Framework, designed to help the broad emergency management community to identify and address challenges that arise during the disaster recovery process.

The framework was developed using input from all levels of government, the private sector, academic and emergency management communities, voluntary and nonprofit organizations, and a wide array of associations and organizations. The document is available at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket FEMA-2010-0004), and the public comment period ends Feb. 26.

Obama appoints McDonnell to the Council of Governors
Gov. Bob McDonnell will be one of 10 governors appointed to the Council of Governors. The Council, created January 11 of this year by Executive Order, will work closely with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and other defense and national security advisors to exchange views, information and advice on matters of mutual interest pertaining to the National Guard, homeland defense, synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States, and civil support activities.

Training...
Upcoming VDEM training courses

Postponed: Emergency Management Procurement Forum
Due to time constraints and the series of storms that have kept VDEM staff busy with emergency response, VDEM’s Procurement Office has postponed the Emergency Management Procurement Forum. The forum is now scheduled for May 1-3, 2011 at the Richmond Marriott. More information and registration will be available as the date approaches.

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.

The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Learning Management System provides information and enrollment for each class.

• Students who do not already have an LMS account through VDEM or another state agency must create an account (a one-time process) in order to enroll.
• Students who have an LMS account should NOT create a separate account, but should proceed directly to their LMS host site web address, log in and enroll in the desired course.

Step-by-step account registration instructions are provided on the VDEM 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. Classes in Portsmouth are listed in the second table.

* The G-289 (Public Information Officer Awareness) course is a new mandatory prerequisite for the revised G-290 (Basic Public Information Officer) course. Enrollment in the G-289 course immediately prior to the G-290 course will fulfill the prerequisite.

Portsmouth: Tidewater Community College Emergency Management Academy
In addition, VDEM will offer four tracks of classes in Portsmouth at the Tidewater Community College Emergency Management Academy, March 8-12. The enrollment deadline is Feb 26. Register using LMS at https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external/.

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