EM Update: August 10, 2011

August 10, 2011

VOPEX preliminary results announced

FEMA evaluators praised the performance of state and local governments during the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise conducted July 19.  This year’s scenario led to a simulated General Emergency at the Surry Power Station and an evacuation of surrounding areas.  A total of 60 FEMA evaluators graded state and local emergency management officials on 350 separate criteria.  FEMA's preliminary comments identified eight issues, five of which were re-demonstrated successfully during the exercise and three that will be re-demonstrated on Aug. 18. FEMA will release a final report later this year.  For more information about the exercise, contact Susan Binkley, VDEM radiological emergency preparedness planner, at (804) 897-9783 or susan.binkley@vdem.virginia.gov.

Hurricane season forecasts updated

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center has updated its forecast for the 2011 hurricane season, increasing the range of named storms (14-19), hurricanes (7-10) and major hurricanes (3-5).  The NOAA outlook calls for above-average activity, but it does not forecast the probability of landfall.

The full forecast is available at http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml

Colorado State University

CSU’s Tropical Meteorology Project continues to call for an active hurricane season due to unusually warm Atlantic sea surface temperatures, weaker trade winds and low sea level pressures.  The August update of its 2011 Atlantic seasonal hurricane activity is unchanged; the forecast calls for 16 named storms (four named storms were observed through July), nine hurricanes and five major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5).  The probability of a hurricane making landfall on the east coast, including Peninsula Florida, is 46 percent (the average for the last century is 31 percent).

Read the forecast: http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/

CSU will issue two-week forecasts for Atlantic tropical storm activity during the peak of the season, from August through October.

FEMA calls for 2011 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards submissions

FEMA is currently accepting submissions for the 2011 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards (formerly the National Citizen Corps Achievement Awards).  The Awards showcase the work of state, local and non-governmental organizations that are FEMA’s most important assets in the nation’s ability to respond to and recover from any major disaster. 

Submissions should emphasize achievements taking place between Jan. 1, 2010 and June 1, 2011 and can feature examples of any outstanding achievements in individual and community preparedness worthy of recognition, regardless of category.  Samples of award categories to consider when recommending award candidates, FAQs, the application and guidance are available at http://citizencorps.gov/councils/awards/2011/awards2011.shtm

Entries must be received by Aug. 26.

Assistance to Firefighters Grant application period opens soon

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant helps to ensure that firefighters and first responders have the essentials they need to be safe and effective on the job.  As of August 2010, recipients of federal grant awards are required to register in the Central Contractor Registration system.  Applicants are not required to register, but can do so in anticipation of an award. 

Though the application period has not opened, there are steps applicants can take to prepare:

1. Download and review the 2011 Get Ready Guides
2. Download and review the 2011 Program Guidance (Coming Soon)
3. Register with the Central Contract Register
4. Participate in a AFG regional workshops

Resources are available at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/afggrants/index.shtm

Youth preparedness program resources available

The national Citizen Corps office is asking volunteers to sign up for the Children's Working Group, established by Administrator Fugate in August 2009.  The group is responsible for leading FEMA's efforts to ensure that the needs of children are considered and integrated into all disaster planning, preparedness, response and recovery efforts initiated at the federal level. Resources include:

• The Youth to the Forefront Review provides an analysis of youth disaster preparedness and education materials and programs. This information may be useful when developing or implementing a local educational program.
• The Catalogue of Youth Disaster Preparedness Education Resources helps individuals and organizations with locating preparedness resources that are tailored to children and youth.  All information comes directly from the sponsoring program.

See more tools at http://www.fema.gov/about/cwg.shtm

Training…

Webinars from EMI

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute is offering a series of monthly webinars for local and state emergency management personnel, including:

• Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management
• Individual Assistance
• Awareness Campaigns - Promoting Preparedness
• Master the Classroom: Skills for a Successful Presentation
• Resource Typing
• The Value of Planning for Commodity Distribution
• Declarations
• Social Media Applications in Emergency Management

Webinars will be held the first Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m.  Learn more at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/webinars/

VDEM Training Calendar

Like VDEM Training on Facebook to receive updates on upcoming courses: http://www.hs.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Department-of-Emergency-Management-Training/241324432558332

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 Knowledge Center provides information and enrollment for each class. Students who do not already have an account through any state agency Learning Management System domain must register for a VDEM LMS account (a one-time process) in order to enroll. Students who have an account through any state agency should log in at that agency’s LMS address and enroll in the desired course(s). Help videos for registration and enrollment processes are provided on the VDEM LMS login page at https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external/. Assistance is available from VDEM’s LMS Help Desk at lmshelp@vdem.virginia.govor (804) 897-9995.

The table below lists VDEM courses for the next quarter: 

 * Open to VDEM Region 4 and 6 Emergency Management/Emergency Response Personnel only.

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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