Planning and Intelligence

The Planning and Intelligence Division is comprised of the Strategic Planning Branch, the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Unit, and the Critical Infrastructure Branch with analysts working in the Virginia Fusion Center. The division provides a methodical approach to engage the whole community through the lifecycle of emergency and disaster preparedness. It helps determine required capabilities; identify gaps in capabilities; and establishes a framework for operationalizing roles and responsibilities for all hazards protection, prevention, response, recovery, and mitigation activities.

The Strategic Planning Branch

The Strategic Planning Branch coordinates comprehensive emergency management planning within the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). The Strategic Planning Branch utilizes emergency management planning principles, including the development of a collaborative planning team, to accomplish the following:

• Identify threats and hazards.
• Assess vulnerability and risk.
• Analyze options to address risk throughout emergency management mission areas.
• Draft and promulgate plans, tools, and templates to address risk.
• Exercise and revise plans in accordance with internal timeframes.

The primary focus of the Strategic Planning Branch is state-level emergency management planning aligned with the agency mission and long-term goals throughout the preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation cycle.

The Strategic Planning Branch supports local and regional emergency management planning initiatives through collaboration with the VDEM regional staff, as appropriate.

The Geographic Information Systems Unit

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) unit of the Planning and Intelligence Division supports steady state and disaster operations with geographic information system products for situational awareness, response operations, and recovery efforts for individual assistance.

The GIS unit develops web-based geospatial situation awareness tools to collect, manage, analyze, and display information geospatially to provide a visual understanding of data. This GIS data provides VDEM, the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST), and state agency and local partners with real-time information using dynamically updated applications that assist with operational readiness, and making data-driven decisions for the more effective management of disasters and events. Specific products provided by the GIS unit include:

1. Know Your Zone Evacuation state routes and hurricane evacuation zones.
2. Operational dashboards for response and recovery data.
3. Visualizations of the geographic distribution of disaster assistance.
4. Visualizations of the location and density of vulnerable populations.
5. Daily tracking of VDEM-engaged incidents to include hazardous materials, medical flights, and search and rescue missions.

The GIS Unit utilizes ArcGIS Online to manage its applications which aim to enhance agency and mission partner knowledge of threats and hazards within the Commonwealth and to provide situational awareness.

The Critical Infrastructure Branch

The Critical Infrastructure Branch (CIB) works with both public and private sector partners to develop a comprehensive program through collaborative partnerships that address the security and resilience of critical infrastructure in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This branch works to ascertain risk by identifying threats, assessing vulnerabilities, and determining critical infrastructure consequences to enhance preparedness through protection, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. As part of this effort, the branch manages the State Critical Infrastructure Working Group and serves as co-chair on the National Capital Region Critical Infrastructure Working group.

CIB is responsible for all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Preparedness data calls to include the State and Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Risk Profile review, Critical Infrastructure nominations, Special Events Data Call, and others. The branch chief serves as the IP Gateway Administrator and the Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) Officer for the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Fusion Center

The Planning and Intelligence Division also supports the Virginia Fusion Center (VFC), which is the state’s multi-disciplinary Intelligence Center. The VFC is a collaborative effort between the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. It was created to provide operational and strategic counter terrorism/criminal information and intelligence to law enforcement, military, public safety, governmental, and private sector decision-makers, as well as to the public. VDEM provides personnel to the VFC who assist with intelligence gathering and product development on existing and emerging threats that may affect prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts before, during, and after events and emergencies.

Office of Access and Engagement

We know that vulnerable and at-risk communities are disproportionately impacted during an event. The Office of Access and Engagement is focused on ensuring that all communications, plans, and programs in regards to emergency management are thoughtfully and inclusively crafted to provide access and opportunity for all residents and visitors of the commonwealth; especially historically underrepresented communities, while addressing gaps in operations and existing imbalances within our communities. This work spans all phases of emergency management: prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

Here are some of the ways that the Office of Access and Engagement is working to create an inclusive commonwealth.

Additional Planning and Intelligence Division Resources

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