EM Update: November 2, 2011

Nov. 2, 2011

Gov. McDonnell appeals FEMA's denial of Individual Assistance for earthquake damage
Gov. McDonnell has appealed FEMA’s denial of disaster assistance for individuals in Louisa County affected by the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Aug. 23.

Since the original request on Oct. 7, officials have found more extensive damage than what was originally reported in more than 1,400 homes, and some damage that was first categorized as minor has become worse as a result of more than 40 aftershocks.  The appeal included a letter from Virginia’s entire congressional delegation supporting the request. 

The Individual Assistance Program would make funding available to homeowners, renters and businesses in the form of low-interest loans and grants, unemployment assistance, disaster housing assistance and crisis counseling.

The governor also requested federal public assistance for Louisa County on Oct. 21.  Public assistance will help with costs to repair county schools, some of which were substantially damaged.  Public Assistance also helps state and local governments recover costs associated with earthquake response, such as damage to critical infrastructure, debris removal and related emergency services.  The request is pending.

To read the governor’s appeal letter, click here: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/utility/docs/FEMAletter.pdf

To read the joint letter to FEMA from Virginia’s congressional delegation, click here: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/utility/docs/10%2028%202011%20VA%20Delegation%20letter%20FEMA%20Appeal%20Louisa%20Co%20and%20statwide%20HM.pdf

SBA deadline for physical damage loans is Nov. 21

Homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations have until Nov. 21 to apply for SBA low-interest loans to help recover from physical damage.  Those with insured losses should not wait for an insurance settlement before applying to the SBA.  

Low-interest disaster loans are available in the following cities and counties:  Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Hanover, Henrico, James City, King and Queen, King William, New Kent, Petersburg  and Prince George in Virginia.

For more information, call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

Statewide Tornado Drill registration open

Everyone in Virginia can participate in the Statewide Tornado Drill, scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on March 20.  Virginians can register their participation at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TornadoDrillRegistration  If there is widespread bad weather March 20, then the drill will be rescheduled for Wednesday, March 21. 

The drill is an opportunity for schools, businesses and individuals to practice important tornado safety steps.  During the drill, NOAA Weather Radios will sound a tornado warning tone alert to start the drill, and participants will practice quick evacuation to designated safe areas in their buildings.  Radio and TV stations also will broadcast the tornado warning sound.

Detailed instructions for identifying safe areas, conducting a tornado drill and registering participation in the Statewide Tornado Drill are available at http://www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia/stayinformed/tornadoes

VDEM Region 4 holds Mining Incident Workshop

The VDEM Region 4 Mining Incident Workshop, conducted Oct. 20 at the Russell County Government Center, helped to define the roles and responsibilities of emergency managers, local government officials, regional partners, state partners, federal partners, and non-government agencies, including private coal mining companies, in mine-related emergencies.

Workshop organizers hope to create a checklist/planning guide for use during a mining incident.

The 48 participants included representatives from Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Tazewell, and Wise counties;, the Virginia departments of Health and Mines Mineral and Energy, the Office of the Commonwealth Medical Examiner, Southwest Mental Health Institute, Southwest Virginia Community College and VDEM;  non-governmental agencies, such as the Mountain Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross, Cleveland Life Saving Crew and Dante Rescue; and private sector groups such as Lhoist North America, Noah Horn Well Drilling, Inc. and Paramont Coal. 

Reminder: Virginia Public Safety Expo set for Nov. 10

Virginia’s public safety agencies will hold the Virginia Public Safety Expo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.on Nov. 10 (rain date: Nov. 15) to exhibit public safety resources and serve as a benefit for the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund.  First responders, state employees and Virginia’s emergency management partners in the private sector are invited for a day featuring demonstrations, training, lunch and a bake sale.  Admission is free.

Demonstrations and training will include:

·         Bomb-investigating robot and K-9

·         Law enforcement training (Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Devices at 11:30 and Criminal Flash Mobs at 12:30 p.m.)

·         High-tech response vehicles and exhibits from several state agencies

Attendees will be able to join tours of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center every half hour.  Lunch (cash only) will be prepared on site, with proceeds going to the Fund.

The event will be at the Virginia State Police Administrative Headquarters parking area.  There will be a pick-up at Darden Gardens (9th and Broad) at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  The bus will return from the VSP parking lot to Darden Gardens at noon and 2 p.m. A vehicle will be available at the VSP parking lot in case an emergency return is needed.

Webinars help applicants with Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program was approved for all localities in the Commonwealth as a result of the major disaster declaration the Commonwealth received for Hurricane Irene.  These webinars will provide information associated with HMGP, as authorized by Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (as amended “The Stafford Act”), Title 42, United States Code (U.S.C.) 5170c. 

HMGP is available throughout Virginia.  Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, and certain private nonprofits.  All eligible applicants must have or be covered by a current FEMA-approved and locally adopted hazard mitigation plan.

Two webinars are scheduled:
Nov. 9 at 10 a.m.:

Meeting Number: 591 214 879
Meeting Password: vdem
To join the webinar:
1. Go to https://intercall.webex.com/intercall/j.php?ED=173872262&UID=1319389462&PW=NMmI5ZThhMGJk&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the meeting password: vdem
4. Click "Join Now".

Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.:

Meeting Number: 591 550 434
Meeting Password: vdem
To join the webinar:
1. Go to https://intercall.webex.com/intercall/j.php?ED=173872432&UID=1319391162&PW=NMTI3YzhmMmI5&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the meeting password: vdem
4. Click "Join Now".

To join the teleconference on both days
Provide your phone number when you join the meeting to receive a call back. Alternatively, you can call:
Call-in toll-free number: 1-8668425779  (US/Canada)
Call-in number: 1-8324453763  (US/Canada)
Conference Code: 804 674 2421

Volunteers…

CERT volunteer first civilian to receive fire department’s Medal of Merit

Cookie Ketcham, Virginia Beach Community Response Team Program manager, has been awarded the Virginia Beach Fire Department’s Medal of Merit for her efforts educating the community in emergency preparedness.  She is the first civilian ever to receive the award.

In addition to her everyday duty to conduct CERT classes, apply for and manage grants, coordinate exercises and oversee 800 volunteers, Ketcham has:

·         Co-chaired a group to organize, design and conduct a regional CERT exercise with approximately 300 participants in addition to federal, state and local officials

·         Participated on the design and planning teams for the Coast Guard Volunteer Participation and the city of Virginia Beach for exercises, such as Medically Friendly Shelter, Water Distribution and Weapons of Mass Destruction.

·         Assisted in planning and executing several FBI quarterly drills, and she manages volunteers at marathons, parades, city fireworks display, hospital moves and city exercises.

In her spare time, she chairs the Citizen Corps Council and is part of the Virginia Beach Emergency Planning committee, the Strategic Planning Committee for Hampton Roads Regional Citizen Corps Council, the FEMA Region III Advisory Council.  She is a Critical Incident Stress Management team mental health leader and foundation member, serves on the Project Lifesaver board of directors, acts as Southern Cross Adaptive Maritime Program chairman of the board and serves on the Virginia Power Soccer board of directors.

Chesterfield youth program gets nod from FEMA

Chesterfield received Honorable Mention in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness in the 2011 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. 

The Chesterfield County Emergency Management Department was successful in getting emergency preparedness education included in the ongoing Success Through Education and Proactive Policing program in all 38 county elementary schools.  The STEPP program is a collaborative educational effort by the Chesterfield County Police Department and Chesterfield County Public Schools, taught by non-sworn, uniformed child-safety officers. Course topics are based on school grade levels.  Chesterfield EM provided brochures and activity books to STEPP instructors, who discussed the importance of having plans, creating emergency kits, arranging for special needs for their families, watching and knowing the forecast, planning for their pets, and the different disasters that could happen in their community.

The project was so successful that child safety officers have decided to designate a full third-grade program (45 minutes) to emergency preparedness for the 2011-12 school year.  A goals-and-objectives format was designed according to the Virginia Standards of Learning curriculum.  Each third-grader (projected to be 4,260) will receive an emergency preparedness brochure to share with their parents and to help guide discussions about the importance of getting a kit, making a plan, and staying informed.

For more information about the program, contact Sherri Laffoon with the Chesterfield County Emergency Management Department at laffoons@chesterfield.gov

Prince William County’s Disaster Jeopardy enters fifth year

Volunteer Prince William, Prince William County Public Schools and the Prince William Office of Emergency Management developed a Jeopardy-like game to add disaster preparedness education to the exiting 10^th-grade first aid and CPR curriculum.  The Disaster Jeopardy game is based on personal preparedness materials covered in A Family Guide to First Aid and Emergency Preparedness, a CD presented by the American Red Cross.

Now entering its fifth year, the program has expanded to other groups.  Volunteer Prince William staff and volunteers make reoccurring visits to senior centers and independent senior living facilities in Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park.  County agencies also have used Disaster Jeopardy for staff training.  Jurisdictions outside Prince William now use the concept to supplement their community outreach efforts. 

Any organization can schedule a Disaster Jeopardy presentation by contacting Bonnie Nahas or Shelley Tibbs at Volunteer Prince William: (703) 369-5292.

VDEM Training Calendar

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.gov or (804) 897-9995.

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